The 57th anniversary of the establishment of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) was commemorated this week with the theme “Silencing the Guns in the Context of COVID-19”.
32 independent African states established OAU on 25 May 1963, with the manifesto of the pan-African vision for free and united Africa. Following the establishment of OAU, and now under AU, Africans have stood together on various mutual affairs.
Since the establishment of OAU, Africans have been working in solidarity during the fight against colonialism which became stronger after the foundation of OAU. Carrying the Pan-Africanism movement, African countries jointly struggled and supported each other and achieved their goal of creating colonial free Africa. Under the umbrella of AU, now the countries of the continent have put an “Agenda-2063” to create prosperous, united and integrated Africa using all African available potentials, resources and opportunities for development.
Beyond struggling for common development, during their 57th anniversary of Africa Day celebration, the continent is under critical challenge due to the outbreak of COVID-19 where over 124, 482 reported cases with 3,696 deaths, reported by Africa CDC on Thursday morning.
According to Africa CDC Director, Dr. John Nkengasong the continent’s COVID-19 fertility case is about 3.8 percent and within a week, from May 21 to 27 the continent has reported over 30,000 cases. Compared to last weeks reported cases, this week’s report shows an increment by 1.4 percent, he noted. According to Africa CDC, although the continent’s testing capacity shows significant change, still a lot remains.
According to Dr. John to win the war against COVID-19 pandemic, it needs strong solidarity of the continent’s head of states, “otherwise the continent would be paralyzed”. As to him “as a continent we must collaborate, cooperate, coordinate and communicate each other”
For the director, Africa CDC and the African Union are working closely with all countries of the continent and is moving from cooperatives mode to a responsive mode. And this week, Africa has started implementing the most complicated response activities including online concert.
On Monday, the World Health Organization (WHO) briefed that Africa has 1.5 percent of the world’s reported cases of COVID-19 and less than 0.1 percent of the world’s deaths, but this numbers do not depict the full picture since testing capacity of the continent is at low.
WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that although Africa is the least affected region globally in terms of the number of cases and deaths reported to WHO, still the continent is in a high risk and there is no real image of the pandemic expansion in the continent due to low testing capacity of the continent.
Although the continent’s early setups of the leaders coalition is accelerating preparedness efforts and ensuring comprehensive control measures, but still there are gaps and high vulnerabilities in the continent on fighting the pandemic, WHO underlined.
Dr. Tedros calls African countries to work in solidarity, in coalition and sharing their experiences of tackling infection diseases so far in their fight against the current pandemic. As to him, the continent should strengthen its testing capacity to control the spread of the pandemic and to mitigate its impacts.
“Solidarity and coalition is the best mechanism in fighting the COVID-19 of the continent and WHO calls the continent’s leaders to keen their solidarity. According to WHO’s Director-General, all African countries have COVID-19 preparedness and response plan and 51 countries have lab testing capacity, but still the number of testing compared with the other world is to slow.
As to WHO “luck of testing may lead the continent to silent expansion of the pandemic”, hence testing, treatment and prevention with strong solidarity and communication are the key mechanisms with strong solidarity and cooperation.
This shows us that, African leaders cooperate and achieve their goal of end colonialism and stand together for developed Africa, have a huge responsibility to save their continent’s population from the pandemic.
In a congratulatory message on Monday, Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed stated that “African countries are celebrating this year’s day at a very challenging time when they are fighting against COVID19 individually and collectively with tremendous solidarity”. He underlined strong cooperation and solidarity of the continent’s leaders to won the war against the pandemic.
African Union Commission Chairperson, Mussa Faki Mahamat on his part stated that it entails a real outpouring of solidarity for a truly strong and lasting African resilience. The only way to contain COVID-19 and its disastrous effects is to ensure our food sufficiency, create millions of jobs, and save hundreds of millions of African citizens, who are currently seriously exposed to pandemics and various other hazards, Mahamat added.
For him there is no noble manner of celebrating Africa Day than by initiating the intellectual, moral and political venture, which is essential for the genuine renaissance and resilience of Africa.
Fifty seven years after the founding act, Africa liberated itself from the colonial presence and from apartheid. It initiated its political unity, and made significant economic, social and cultural progress. However, such progress cannot conceal the obvious shortcomings and delays, the commissioner said. The Commission Chairperson strongly called on member states to continue their solidarity in fighting the pandemic.
The anniversary’s events and gatherings were canceled and held through video conferences and during the day AU was launched an online concert to raise resources to strengthen the continental response to COVID-19.
BY DARGIE KAHSAY
