Africa Day 2025: A Renewed Call for Justice, Unity, and Global Respect

As the continent marked the 62nd anniversary of the founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU)—now the African Union (AU)—leaders across Africa used the opportunity of Africa Day to call for deeper unity, reparative justice, and a stronger continental voice on the global stage. In two powerful statements, the President of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), H.E. Chief Fortune Charumbira, and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, underscored the historical legacy and future responsibilities of African institutions in shaping the continent’s destiny.

A Day of Reflection and Action

In his message from Midrand, Chief Charumbira evoked the spirit of the 1963 Addis Ababa summit where African leaders first gathered to lay the foundation for continental unity and self-determination. “They lit the torch of Pan-Africanism,” he declared, “a flame that continues to guide our path towards sovereignty, dignity, and collective advancement.”

Chief Charumbira placed this year’s commemorations within the framework of the African Union’s 2025 theme: “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations.” He affirmed PAP’s unwavering commitment to advancing reparative justice—not merely as a call for compensation, but as a pursuit of truth, healing, and transformation.

“Reparative justice is not simply about compensation; it is about acknowledging historical crimes, holding accountable those who benefited from them, and ensuring redress that restores dignity,” Charumbira stated.

Underscoring the legitimacy of the reparations agenda, the PAP President described it as a right “grounded in international law, moral conscience, and historical evidence,” asserting that global powers must reckon with the enduring legacy of slavery, colonialism, and systemic exploitation.

This year also marks the 21st anniversary of the Pan-African Parliament, and Chief Charumbira used the moment to recommit the institution to its core mandate: representing the African people, promoting inclusive governance, and integrating the diaspora more robustly into the continental development project.

“Let us rise, not as fragmented states, but as One Africa with One Voice,” he urged, calling for greater solidarity in advancing justice and prosperity for all Africans.

Africa’s Strategic Reawakening

In his own address, the AUC Chairperson, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, focused on Africa’s growing stature in global affairs and the responsibility that comes with it. Referring to the African Union’s recent accession to the G20, he described it as “a global recognition of the importance of Africa,” but cautioned that this symbolic inclusion must be matched by strategic self-reliance and action.

“There is no doubt that Africa’s potential—its mineral resources, arable lands, and industrial capacity—must be accounted for. It is our responsibility to protect these resources for present and future generations,” he declared.

Chairperson Youssouf challenged AU member states to shift from raw resource exports to building robust value chains that support African industrialization and intra-African trade. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), he noted, remains a cornerstone for economic independence.

Criticizing the marginal role Africa often plays in international diplomacy, Youssouf observed that global geopolitics is “conducted at the expense of our continent.” In response, he called for a bold reassertion of African agency: “It is up to us Africans to assert our values, reaffirm our convictions, and gain the respect of all nations.”

Revisiting the foundational ideals of Pan-Africanism, he described it not merely as an aspiration but as a set of “strategic goals” reflecting a long-term vision for the continent’s political, economic, and cultural sovereignty.

A Shared Message

Both leaders’ remarks—though different in tone—converged on key principles: self-reliance, unity, historical reckoning, and strategic transformation. While Chief Charumbira focused on justice and moral restitution through reparations, Chairperson Youssouf emphasized the imperative of internal capacity-building and assertive global engagement.

Together, their voices echoed a broader message: Africa must take charge of its narrative, institutions, and future—drawing strength from its history and solidarity among its people.

As Africa Day 2025 comes to a close, the challenge remains clear: to turn commemoration into action, memory into policy, and unity into transformation.