Founded in 1963, the aim of the Organization of Africa Unity, the precursor of Africa Union (AU) was to safeguard the interests and independence of all African states, encourage the continent's development, and settle disputes among member states.
I agree with the President of Namibia, Dr. Hage Geingob, that African Union (AU) had achieved "what some thought would be impossible - a free, democratic, self-governing and most importantly an Africa without incessant civil wars" .
Indeed Africa has come of age as articulated by Nigeria's General Murtala Ramat Muhammed in his "Africa Has Come of Age" speech at the OAU Summit Summit on Angola which categorically mobilised African Heads of State for the recognition of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) as the authentic government of the Angolan people contrary to the preference of United States of America and the West in general.
The chair of the Africa Union, South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa hit the nail on the head when in his anniversary speech he observed that "As Africans we will continue to stand on the side of justice and support the people of the Western Sahara in their enduring struggle for freedom and self-determination".
It's time for genuine collaboration and unity of purpose between African states in combating the impact of the pandemic within the new normal and within the context of the African Union's Agenda 2063.
