Fellow Africans, My Dear Sisters and Brothers on the Motherland and in the African Diaspora,

On 25 May 1963, the Organisation of African Unity was established in Addis Ababa, symbolising the Africa Day that we are celebrating with pride today.

I extend my warmest congratulations to each and every one of you.

Let me here pay tribute to the pioneers of Pan-Africanism on the continent and in the African Diaspora, and to the founding fathers, whose clear vision, transcending barriers, lit the incandescent flame of African Unity 59 years ago.

From the OAU to the African Union, launched on 9 July 2002 in Durban, the legacy of the preceding generations has been forged and consolidated.

We have decolonised our continent, dismantled the odious Apartheid system and peacefully resolved many of the border disputes inherited from colonisation.

Buoyed by the faith of the pioneers, we are pursuing our integration efforts at the continental level and within our Regional Economic Communities; through Agenda 2063 and the initiatives of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD); and through the progressive establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

We have made significant progress.

Just as we are faced with significant challenges.

I’ll just mention peace, security and the fight against terrorism; environmental protection; and inclusive economic and social development, taking into account the specific needs of young people and women: notably education, training, employment and addressing violence against women and girls.

I am not oblivious of the issue of political and institutional governance, including the resurgence of coups d’état on the continent.

Moreover, we are moving in an unfavourable international environment, where the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is aggravated by the consequences of a conflictual global situation and the persistence of inequitable political, economic and financial governance.

But instead of curbing our ambitions and paralysing our action, these challenges must, on the contrary, reinvigorate our faith in our common and collective destiny.

They should remind us that if we want to unleash the full potential of our continent, we must first rely on ourselves, close our ranks, be more united and supportive to one another, and believe more in our own capacity to build the Africa of tomorrow.

Therefore, I call for the general mobilisation of our energies and intelligence to build together the Africa of our dreams; the Africa of roads, highways, railways, ports, airports, power plants, agricultural farms, pharmaceutical and medical products, industrial and digital parks; of artistic and cultural creation and sports engineering.

I particularly urge our youth to convey and amplify this message.

In so doing, we will make our sovereignty more than a proclamation of a promise, but a reality in line with the vision of our predecessors.

Together, let us continue the work.

Together, as our anthem invites us to do, “Let us make Africa the Tree of life” to remain its worthy sons and daughters, “Flesh of the Sun and Flesh of the Sky”.

Long live Africa! Long live the African Union!