By Spy Uganda
As Africa marks Africa Day 2025, the African Union Commission (AUC) has delivered a strong and forward-looking message emphasizing justice, resilience, and continental unity.
In a powerful address, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the AUC, declared that Africa would no longer be defined by its history of oppression. “Africa will not be held hostage by the pain of its past,” he said. “The continent continues to make sacrifices in its journey toward freedom from conflict, underdevelopment, and war. We are steadily building a future of peace, prosperity, and integration.”
This year’s Africa Day theme — “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations” — reflects a growing continental demand for truth, justice, and restoration for the historical injustices of slavery and colonialism. Youssouf acknowledged that while reparations are long overdue, the focus must now shift to leveraging Africa’s potential for transformation.
The Chairperson outlined the continent’s strategic assets, including its youthful and rapidly growing population, vast natural resources, and renewable energy capacity. With Africa’s population projected to exceed 2.5 billion by 2050, he described the continent as a “key engine of global transformation.”
Youssouf also praised the dynamism of African youth and women, who he said are driving innovation and grassroots development across the continent. He highlighted their critical role in building a self-sustaining Africa.
Notably, the AU Chairperson pointed to Africa’s increasing prominence in global governance, particularly its inclusion in the G20. He described this as a “well-deserved recognition” of Africa’s growing economic and political relevance.
“It is our duty as Africans to safeguard our resources and prioritize value addition through initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” Youssouf stated. “Africa must no longer be an afterthought in global geopolitics.”
In conclusion, Youssouf called on all Africans to recommit to the ideals of Pan-Africanism and to take bold, united steps toward a future defined by dignity, equity, and shared progress.
“Africa’s destiny lies in our hands,” he affirmed. “Let us move forward with confidence, clarity, and collective purpose.”
As Africa Day 2025 is celebrated across the continent and in the diaspora, the AU’s message stands clear: the time has come for Africa to own its narrative, reclaim justice, and lead its development agenda.
