Ethiopian diplomat urges Africans to rise to new challenges

Though the last 50 years of Africa’s history have been fraught with so many challenges, Africans today are very proud of their achievements, according to Ethiopia’s Ambassador Kongit Sinegiorgis.

“It is gratifying to note that our continent has been liberated from all forms of subjugation. The major task ahead of us is, therefore, to achieve the socio-economic emancipation of our continent,” Kongit on Monday told the African Union’s Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) at its 26th ordinary session that is under way here

Kongit, who is the committee’s current chair, expressed hope that current and future generations of Africans would “rise up to the challenge and work very hard to realise the dreams of our founding fathers for a peaceful, prosperous and united Africa.”

Having started her diplomatic career in 1963, Kongit recalled that she was assigned to distribute documents at the assembly of African leaders who gathered in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, to establish the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the forerunner of the AU.

“I vividly remember the great sense of joy and enthusiasm when the OAU Charter was signed by 32 African Heads of State and Government,” said Kongit, pointing out that she felt greatly honoured and privileged “to serve my country and contribute, in a minute way, to the cause of Africa.”

“It gives me great pleasure and honour to preside over the work of this important organ of the AU at the end of my diplomatic career and at the time when we are celebrating a historic milestone in the life of our continental organisation,” she added.

The Committee, among other items on its agenda, would consider the draft Proclamation to be adopted by 21st Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly here next week.

It will also review the latest version of the Strategic Plan of the AU for the 2014-2017 period, after the inclusion of a number of comments and suggestions made by 14th extraordinary session of the Executive Council on 8 April 2013.

Following the adoption of the Plan by the Council, now it has to be finalised and submitted for endorsement at the next session of the AU Assembly.

The PRC will also consider a detailed draft budget  of the AU Commission for 2014.