By Derrick Omoding
The 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union officially opened at the African Union head quarters in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia under the theme “Justice for Africans and People of African Decent Through Reparations”. This theme aims at addressing historical injustices and their lasting aftermath on the African continent.
Her Excellency Vice President Jessica Alupo who is representing President Yoweri Museveni joined over 35 heads of State and Government and a number of senior government officials in the respective countries.
The vice President is accompanied by the State Minister for Foreign Affairs, John Mulimba, Uganda’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Rebecca Otengo, Uganda’s Military Attache to Ethiopia Col. Fred Zakye and a number of Ugandan officials from the African Union and Ugandan Embassy in Addis Ababa.
In his opening remarks the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, H.E. Abiy Ahmed called on African nations to strengthen unity to ensure sustainable development.
His Excellency Abiy also emphasized that Africa’s pursuit of justice for historical damages should not be misinterpreted as a request for aid. He said that in the world marked by dynamic change, Africa is faced by a magnitude of uncertainties and therefore the need to strengthen our protective goals, resilience and foster unity across the continent.
He added that in order to achieve lasting peace, justice and prosperity, Africa must rise above the historical traditions imposed on us by the colonial forces and suggested that fostering solidarity among all foundations and embracing a shared destiny, the African continent can pool her resources and endowments to unlock her full potential.
The United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres, said that the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union has never been stronger and collectively they can see Africa brimming with hope and possibility.
He said that Africa has a booming, enterprising population and the largest number of young people in the world and given the world’s best renewable resources, the African Continental Free Trade Area is poised to turbo charge the region’s economy.
Guterres said that the world must never forget that Africa is a victim of two colossal and compound injustices, first the profound impact of colonialism, and the transatlantic slave trade and whose roots stretch back centuries and that the biter fruits continue to affect Africans and the people of African descent to-date.
The UN Secretary General pledged to continue working with the African Union and all member states to ensure the representation Africa needs and the justice that the continent deserves including two permanent of the Security Council.
The leaders of Africa Union countries on Saturday elected a new chief for the branch that runs the organization’s daily operations in Djibouti Foreign Minister, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf as the next chair of the African Union Commission in a secret ballot.
Youssouf, who celebrated his 60th birthday a week ago, defeated Kenya’s former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and former Foreign Minister of Madagascar Richard Randriamandrato. The selection took eight rounds of voting. He replaces Moussa Faki Mahamat of Chad, who served two terms as AU commissioner.
Youssouf, who has been minister of foreign affairs of the Republic of Djibouti since 2005, is the longest-serving foreign minister on the continent.
All 55 member states, with the exception of six countries that were suspended from membership, took part in the summit.
Meanwhile, Angolan President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco took the rotating African Union chairmanship, replacing Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani.