The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, has called on the youth of Africa to do more to propel the continent’s development.
He further called for a concerted effort to tackle issues facing the continent, including terrorism and degradation of the environment.
Moussa Mahamat made the call in his address to mark the 61st African Union Day (OAU) celebration.
He said the youth of the continent should not be satisfied with the level of development across the continent.
“With the Youth making up over 60% of Africa’s population, tens of millions of hectares of arable land, water, fisheries, mining and energy resources, our young people cannot and should not be satisfied with development on the cheap,” said His Excellency Moussa Mahamat.
“Liberation and progress in development and integration are now a reality. This has been the result of the vision and leadership of the founding fathers and current leaders, but also and above all, of your mobilisation by the hundreds of millions across the Continent, your many sacrifices, your unshakeable endurance to ensure that the sun shines and warms planet Africa,” he added.
Touching on the myriad of issues that retard the progress of the continent, Moussa Mahamat urged governments and political leaders to implement drastic measures to restore peace and security in affected areas on the continent.
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“Peace and security, the solution to the crises that are ravaging some of our countries, terrorism, the degradation of the natural environment, youth and female unemployment, migration, the retreat of democratic values, unconstitutional changes of government, all these require a real increase in mobilisation, sacrifices and coherent struggles to put a definitive end to all of these evils.
He further bemoaned the lack of progress towards the realization of a united Africa as envisioned by the proponents of the OAU.
“The Organisation of African Unity, born of the pain of our struggles, now finds itself at a real crossroads. We must reform resolutely and courageously to become what our founding fathers wanted us to be, which is, a powerful lever for unity, liberation, integration and the defence of African dignity in relation to ourselves but also in relation to others,” he said.
Africa Union Day is the annual commemoration of the foundation of the Organization of African Unity on May 25, 1963. It is celebrated in various countries on the African continent as well as around the world.
This year’s anniversary was under the theme “Educate an African fit for the 21st: Building Resilient Education System for Increased Access to Inclusive, Lifelong, Quality and Relevant Learning in Africa.”
