The unity of Africans made its establishment 61 years back when forming the first continental organization in May 1963, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) with 32 heads of independent African States met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, aiming at liberalizing countries of the continent from colonization and apartheid. It can be said that it was successful in this regard as all the countries have realized their freedom and become sovereign states in terms of self-governance politically.
What is remaining and has been homework for the continent as a whole and the countries individually is economic freedom which is the crucial factor to entertain political freedom without any external intervention. This aspiration has necessitated transformation of the Organization to a Union. Therefore, the African union (AU) was officially launched in July 2002 in Durban, South Africa, following a decision in September 1999 by its predecessor, the OAU to create a new continental organization to build on its work.
The AU is guided by its vision of “An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.” In due course, the continental organization has registered many successes in terms of enhancing peace, ensuring economic progress, respecting human rights and lauding voice of its people at the international forums. However, there are myriads of home works ahead to achieve the above values in full package.
To this end, the continent’s states set Agenda 2063 as Africa’s blueprint and master plan for transforming Africa into the global powerhouse of the future. As the information of African Union, it is the continent’s strategic framework that aims to deliver on its goal for unity, self-determination, freedom, progress and collective prosperity under Pan-Africanism and African renaissance.
In order to workout agenda 2063, countries of the continent need to go further phase by phase. Though the continent is endowed with underground and surface natural resources and inhibited more than 1.4 billion populations which the majority is the working force, it is lagging behind in development, education, health services and security issues among others. Struggle for Poverty reduction cannot be through yet as a remarkable number of its people are under the poverty line yet.
African solutions for African problems could be successful in some cases like in the case of Ethiopia, the Pretoria peace agreement between the Ethiopian government and TPLF to cease hostilities and silencing the guns. In other words, however, it is hard to say it is potent in controlling forceful takeovers of governmental power in some countries that seems increasing from time to time. This trend requires the Union revise its programs and take informative measures and bring to an end power assumption except through democratic elections.
As economic freedom accompanied by political independence enables the continent stand with its feet, diligent effort should be exerted to realize economic liberalization via harnessing its human and natural resources.
The Union has gone far behind what is expected in all sectors of politics, economic and social affairs. To realize continental strength, they ought to work on strengthening regional institutions. They need to connect each other with roads, railways, power, and communication infrastructures and make sure economic integration via interregional trades. Later on political unity will be easy to come true.
In order to make heard its voice loudly at the global arena, standing united and keeping up to pursue permanent sit at the UN Security Council needs concerted effort. To this end, bringing to an end conflicts within the countries and between the countries is a preliminary issue.
In sum, African Union is responsible for the realization of the continent’s peace, security, prosperity and civilization and it has to go up to its age.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 25 MAY 2024
