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25 MAY - AFRICA DAY
by Julien Randriamasivelo
head of Africa Section, P.S.
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In this year' commemoration
of Africa Day, attention has
been focused on the new
developments of the general
situation in Africa in many
aspects. Greater expectations
are stirred up over the
performances of the African
Union (AU) ) in the years to
come. This political entity has
the immense task to meeting the
genuine aspirations of African
peoples for political, economic
and social unification in order
to ensure its success. AAPSO has
hailed the significant steps
made so far in creating within
the AU different political,
legislative, security organs as
a meaningful first achievements
in order to deal with the
enormous challenges that the AU
is facing.
Nonetheless, other most
disturbing realities should
deserve due attention. Human and
humanitarian rights of refugees
and displaced persons have
caused growing concerns; racism,
xenophobia, inter-ethnic and
inter-religious confrontations
are rife...Along with a number
of fragile settlements of
politico-military problems in
the post-conflicts situation in
some African countries, Africa
faces immense challenges in
terms of its development.
These facts form part of the
realities prevailing in the life
of African countries. The
situation in Sudan where the
long-lasting war has brought
Sudanese people into deaths and
more sufferings, has caused
frustration all over Africa
about the future outcome of the
repeatedly delayed peace
agreement, not to mention the
dimension reached by the
developments of what is
happening in Darfur.
The attention of the
peace-loving world should be
focused on parts of Africa which
are still put in hostage by
looming conflicts, or where
natural resources are being
extremely coveted with hidden
complicity of corrupt Africans
and transnational corporations.
World is witnessing that African
development is being tailored to
fit the vested interests of
great powers with the
international financial and
trade institutions playing the
main actors in the world
economy. As a political tool of
international financial and
monetary institutions and other
donors countries, the systematic
indebtedness has kept entire
African populations in hostage
indefinitely. The starving
people by famine has caused
vulnerability of some categories
of populations. The fight
against the spread of diseases
like AIDS requires strengthned
efforts in order to reverse the
unbearable situation being
caused. Despite the fact that
democracy has put root in
Africa, nonetheless, using the
pretext of the fight against
terrorism, some African leaders
have been engaged into gross
violations of human rights and
other inhumane treatments like
tortures which are routinely
practised.
Meeting the challenges put
before the African Union and the
African people in general needs
strong political will and
determination to avoid the
repetition of mistakes or other
setbacks in dealing with the
African process to development,
peace, progress and prosperity.
All eyes are now focused on the
new African Union. The question
is now, whether it is strong and
determined enough to face the
challenges laid ahead. In this
connection, the African Union,
the African civil society and
NGOs should form a genuine
partnership in fulfilling common
task, reinforcing the principle
of participatory democracy on
the national, regional and
continental levels, giving all
categories of African people the
opportunity to deploy their own
efforts in building a new Africa
confidence in its future.
The Afro-Asian Peoples'
Solidarity Organisation wishes
African Union all success it
deems to deserve in its highly
respectable and devoted
responsibility and task.
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