On Africa Day, a Virtual Conference (webinar), on Silencing the Guns Initiative, organized by the AU’s Department of Peace and Security was held for 25 May 2020, at 3.00 p.m. East Africa Time. The goal is to sensitize and generate interest among African Citizens about the nexus between development and peace to encourage country-level and sub-regional programs of action towards silencing guns in Africa.
Several African nationals; Africans in the diaspora as well as descendants of Africa, have organised commemorative cultural events that highlight the vibrancy of African cultures, foods, and traditions. Most of these will be virtual events due to the COVID-19 pandemic to celebrate the African Day.In addition the African Union Commission (AUC) has also organised an Africa Day Benefit Concert. The two-hour event will feature some of Africa’s big names in music.This will happen, Monday 25 May 2020, 18:00 to 20:00 hours East African Time. The concert can be viewed on the MTVBase YouTube channel.
Known as the continent of Safari, wild animals, colourful people and amazing sounds. Africa is the youngest and poorest continent. More than 60% of its population is under 35 years: an opportunity for better future depending on the continent’s determination. It lives a huge paradox of poverty and richness in natural resources and is also the world’s second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia.
Africa and the pandemic crisis
Today as we celebrate Africa Day, Despite the numerous challenges and problems. Africa like the rest of the world is fighting Covid-19 and had shown it’s a concern to the world in handling the issues. Many countries adopted the lockdown majors and quarantine to limit the spread of Covid-19, These majors weigh too much in many countries, where people try to survive daily, a big number lost jobs, schools closed without possibilities of attending online classes and hunger threatens millions of people, survival might become the new disease after the pandemic. However, while western countries are fighting on who gets the masks first, African countries showed solidarity in handling the pandemic; Morocco shares suppliers and experiences to Senegal and Ivory Coast. Some countries such as Tunisia, Algeria, and Mali developed respirators to help Covid-19 patients while Senegal created a cheaper auto Covid-19 test. The solidarity and spirit of innovation demonstrate that a kind of leadership of unity based on sharing, responsibility, and protagonism which Together for a new Africa is aiming, is not a utopia and gives hope to the young generation.
What is Africa Day?
Africa Day is celebrated annually on 25 May, to commemorate the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) which was created on 25 May 1963 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The precursor of the African Union (AU). The day provides an opportunity to recite the political and socio-economic achievements of African governments and African citizens. The theme of this year is “Silencing the Guns in the context of the COVID19” corresponds with the African Union theme of the year – ‘Silencing the Guns: creating conducive conditions for Africa’s development’ – to reinforce African Union’s efforts to silence the continent’s guns – focusing in particular, on addressing the underlying root causes of conflict and facilitating socio-economic development.
