By Roy Lie Atjam
Theme: The Year of Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations
Objective: to forge a unified African Common Position on reparations, drawing insights from experts, member states, and key stakeholder.
Significance: “As we commemorate Africa Day 2025, we proudly celebrate the 62nd anniversary of the founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), now known as the African Union (AU), established in 1963”.
On 27 May 2025, the Group of African Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, alongside Her Excellency Ms. Maria Isabel Resende Encoge, the Ambassador of the Republic of Angola and Dean of the Group of African Diplomatic Corps, hosted the Africa Day 2025 celebrations.
Her Excellency Dean Ms. Maria Isabel Resende Encoge delivered inspiring remarks that underscore the significance of our united aspirations and the quest for justice.
“First of all, allow me to welcome all those who honour us with their presence at this commemorative event in allusion to the 62nd anniversary of the establishment of Africa Day, on 25 May 1963, when African Heads of State enthusiastically created the Organization of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union, ensuring, among other things, the total emancipation of the African continent, after centuries of colonial oppression, the consequences of which are still being faced in the different geographies of our continent and by people of African descent throughout the world.
For this reason, we underline the relevance of “justice for all Africans and Afro-descendants through reparations”, as part of the process of achieving an increasingly egalitarian environment among men, regardless of their colour, ethnicity, religion or gender.
Furthermore, diplomatic efforts continue as a valid path towards the recovery of cultural artifacts and African heritage looted during colonization and slavery as an important mechanism for historical reparation.
Similar to the period in which African independence was achieved, the current global geopolitical scenario is marked by events of various kinds, namely armed conflicts,climate change, food crises, among others, thus requiring greater acuity in the use of diplomatic resources so that the best solutions are found in the shortest possible time frames, paving the way for the achievement of collective goals, with emphasis on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
In this regard, allow me to express our recognition and gratitude for the crucial role of international solidarity in achieving African independence, and to emphasize that once again, we are called to convert challenges into opportunities, overcoming the obstacles arising from the current situation, in search of a better future that extends to all, based on the principles of the United Nations Charter, the Constitutive Act of the African Union and other related instruments.
I wish everyone a Happy Africa Day, the Cradle of Humanity, a continent so diverse and rich, with vibrant cultures and immense potential, and above all, a friendly and very happy people, as can be seen in this present human context.
I conclude my speech by saluting our unity, saluting our efforts to find African solutions to African problems, saluting our contribution to a better world”.
Musical ensembles from Angola, Morocco and Sudan contributed vibrant performances of music and dance. Additionally, various countries seized the opportunity to delight the guests with an array of exquisite culinary dishes from their country.
A dazzling celebration, thanks to the enthusiastic participation of a large number of attendees.
