57th Africa Day: Reflections On Fostering Africa’s Industrialisation

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57th Africa Day: Reflections On Fostering Africa’s Industrialisation

31 mai 2020 07:59

Commemorative activities of the event took place at different levels and on different digital platforms as the continent battles against coronavirus pandemic.

T he entire African continent has commemorated the 57th edition of Africa Day in a rather difficult and uncertain circumstances. This is because of the outbreak of the coronavirus that has been ravaging not only African countries but the world at large. This explains why this year’s edition of Africa Day on May 25, 2020 was observed on the theme “Silencing the Guns: Creating Conducive Conditions for Africa’s Development.” Commemorative activities took place at different levels but most on virtual platforms given the coronavirus pandemic. However, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Chadian born Moussa Faki Mahamat in his message stated that “There is an urgent need for Africa to chart its own course.” The COVID-19 pandemic, he noted, brutally reminds Africa of the imperative need to put a stop to dependency on the exterior. “This can be achieved through the twofold objective of living on our own resources, and resolutely focusing on our industrialisation process,” he stated. Africa, the richest continent on the globe yet so poor and dependent on the west for survival and Ambassador Faki Mahamat says its food dependency, insecurity, poor state of roads, ports, health and educational infrastructure are unacceptable and intolerable. “In spite of its huge economic potential, and its rich, young and dynamic human capital, most African States have difficulties in ensuring the welfare of their populations,” Ambassador Faki Mahamat regretted.

He saluted various initiatives taken by member States in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic and praised the AU Solidarity fund put in place at the level of the continent. A fund which Cameroon has contributed the whopping sum of FCFA 1 billion. Talking about industrialisatio...