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he launching of a new African diplomatic passport and the placing of a first stone of the new African Union (AU) compound in construction in Addis Ababa are two moments that today mark world Africa Day, celebrated each May 25th, to remember the day when 42 years ago the independence struggle from colonialism gave way to the
Organization for African Unity (OAU), the first Pan-African bloc, which in 2002 became the African Union.
As the continent gains increasing awareness of the central role that, particularly over the next years, it will assume also on the international scene, its leaders begin feeling the need to redesign relations with the rest of the world, as clearly
emphasized in the theme chosen for the 2007 celebrations: “Let’s strengthen Africa’s place in the world through strategic, balanced and responsible partnership”.
The celebrations will be presided by the acting chairman of the AU and Head of State of Ghana, John Kufuor, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and the AU Commission president Alpha Oumar Konaré, with the participation and intervention of a Chinese delegation. The Chinese government in fact committed to building the new AU headquarters, at the cost of $150-million, to be inaugurated today on the site where the infamous prison of the dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam, ‘Almebekange’ (which means ‘end of the world’) once stood.
Another step toward the unification of the continent – not by chance that the theme of the next AU summit will be the United States of Africa – will be the new ‘African passport’ that today Presidents, ministers, ambassadors and officials of Pan-African institutions (those who usually do not have to show them) will be able to present to customs throughout the continent, obtaining immediate and free access.
Let’s strengthen Africa’s place in the world through strategic, balanced and responsible partnership
In 2006 Africa registered the highest rate of economic growth in 20 years, according to the latest report of the African Development Bank (ADB), African Economic Outlook 2006/2007, presented today ahead of tomorrow’s annual meeting of the Pan-African bank that for the first time is to be held in Shanghai, China.
Based on data of the African Bank, the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of the continent went from an average growth of 5% of the past six years, to 5.5% last year and based on projections of experts, should rise to a further 6% by the end of 2007. The report attributes the growth to strong external demand for oil (with an increasing number of African nations launching or increasing their oil production) and non-oil minerals, increased investment in these sectors, good weather conditions, which consented the farming sector to register excellent figures, in addition to major trust of international investors toward some key nations.
Among these the four nations with the highest economic growth: South Africa, Algeria, Nigeria and Egypt, which alone produce half of the continent’s GDP, though contributing only to a third of the African population. “The continent still needs to accelerate and sustain growth to the level of 7-8% to be able to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of halving the proportion of people living in extreme poverty by 2015”, stated Louis Kasekende, Chief Economist of the African Development Bank.
(From MISNA)