AU Day 2020

 AFRICAN UNION DAY 2020

ESSAY BY HAVI DELASI JUSTICE

The African Union (AU) is a continental union consisting of 55 member states located on the continent of Africa.

 The AU was announced in the Sirte Declaration in Sirte, Libya, on 9 September 1999, calling for the establishment of the African Union. The bloc was founded on 26 May 2001 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and launched on 9 July 2002 in Durban, South Africa. The intention of the AU was to replace the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), established on 25 May 1963 in Addis Ababa by 32 signatory governments; the OAU was disbanded on 9 July 2002. 

The most important decisions of the AU are made by the Assembly of the African Union, a semi-annual meeting of the heads of state and government of its member states. The AU's secretariat, the African Union Commission, is based in Addis Ababa. 

The objectives of the AU are the following:

-To achieve greater unity, cohesion and solidarity between the African countries and African nations.

-To defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of its Member States.

-To accelerate the political and social-economic integration of the continent.

-To promote and defend African common positions on issues of interest to the continent and its peoples.

-To encourage international cooperation, taking due account of the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

-To promote peace, security, and stability on the continent.

-To promote democratic principles and institutions, popular participation and good governance, Etc.

THE IMPACTS AND PROGRESS OF AU SINCE ITS INCEPTION

The African Continent is known to have quiet a number of challenges and problems. This curse across areas of healthcare systems, political instability, poor education systems, economic slavery among others.

Whilst the continent faces these numerous challenges and problems, it is very evident that over the years of the establishment of African Union, there has been relatively significant progress, improvements and developments in these areas 

There has also been significant progress in the safe guarding of human rights and freedoms. As a pan-African institution, the AU has made substantial progress in taking a stronger lead in the integration of the African continent and in global fora.

However, it still has a long way to go before it can claim to be both effective and influential. Among all these, Africa is massively expected to make greater exploits in economic development and integration among other good things even as the continent celebrates AU Day.

It is our Hope as Africans to see a changed Africa. African countries have attained political independence but are grossly buried in economic slavery. The change we want to see in Africa is possible and all Africans must unite for it. The white man is not the solution to our problems. Resources are available, a vibrant youth is ready and willing but a competent leadership is absent. Africa; Arise for change now!

Physiotherapy Professional, Youth Leader, Deaf Advocate, Multilingual, Volunteer, Writer, Speaker, Spoken Word Artist