Guinea welcomes AU's commitment to building a stable and prosperous Africa
Conakry, Guinea (PANA) - In a statement issued on Monday, the anniversary of the creation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the forerunner of the African Union (AU), Guinean Foreign Minister, Mamady Touré, said that this 57th anniversary is "an opportune moment" to assess the progress made since 1963 towards the effective realization of the integration of our continent."
He recalled that this event is taking place in a particularly-difficult context, marked by the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the consequences of which, in addition to the numerous loss of human lives, will durably affect the growth sectors of our countries.
"The celebration of Africa Day gives us the opportunity to evoke the memory of the architects of our union, these pan-Africanists, including the first Guinean President, Ahmed Sékou Touré, who, on 25 May 1963, had decided to set up an institutional and legal framework to defend Africa's interests on the international scene, promote the emancipation and development of the continent and strengthen its unity," he recalled.
This year's theme, "Silencing the guns: creating conditions conducive to Africa's development", he said, reflects both our common will to build a stable and prosperous Africa, as well as the concerns of Member States over the persistence of some hotbeds of crisis and tension across the continent.
"It is gratifying to note that the AU is gradually adapting to the challenges facing us through salutary initiatives to build a new and stable Africa.
"The Republic of Guinea, which has played a pioneering role in the emancipation and rebirth of African peoples, is proud of its contribution to the building of Africa we want," he said.
"In this regard, I would like to express the high appreciation of the Guinean government to all Member States for the choice of our country to represent the West African region in the AU Ministerial Committee on Agenda 2063 for the period 2020-2022 and to assume, at the level of the United Nations, the presidency of the Group of 77 plus China in 2021."
Among the achievements recorded in recent years thanks to this approach of "champion heads of state", according to the minister, is the realization of the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA), a real framework for integration of the continent, which will enable Africa to see its potential and its volume of trade increase considerably for better competitiveness at the international level.
It is also worth highlighting the significant progress achieved by the AU in the processes of restoring peace and consolidating democracy, with the operationalization of the structures and mechanisms established for this purpose.
The progressive establishment of lasting peace, he stressed, in several regions of the continent, through the peaceful resolution of crises and conflicts, augurs well for a more stable and prosperous Africa.
-0- PANA AC/IS/MTA/VAO 25May2020
