Africa Day ignored at home

2005-05-25 21:45

Addis Ababa - The 42nd Africa Day holiday was celebrated on Wednesday with little fanfare across Africa while several European leaders marked the occasion with homages and promises.

The holiday was established in 1963 to mark the foundation of the Organisation of African Unity (OUA) which evolved in 2002 into the 53 state organ today known as the African Union (AU).

"The OAU marked the time of decolonisation and we hope the AU will mark a time of integration," said AU spokesperson Assane Ba from its headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The AU launched a slogan of "Active and efficient for a new Africa" as a reminder of the reasons why it is establishing infrastructure on the 42nd anniversary.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair has made Africa one of the issues he will be championing at an upcoming meeting of the G8 wealthy nations in Scotland.

"The whole of this country (Britain) is committed to the changes that we want to make in favour of Africa, not just increasing our aid but also making sure that we put together a proper and comprehensive plan for Africa," said Blair.

"To give that continent, which is the only continent in the world over the last 30 years that has gone backward and not forward, hope and confidence in the future," he explained.

Russia's president Vladimir Putin was more concerned with African military structures.

"We salute the efforts of African states to form joint regional security structures, especially to build their own peacekeeping forces," he said.

- AFP