What role can the AU play in fostering Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance?

» Seyoum Mesfin: Truly, the AU is our continental organization which gives leadership through consensus on the basis of the common interests of all the Member States. The AU provides leadership toward the creation and building of people-centered unity and solidarity in Africa.

When we talk about Africa, we have to realize how Africa is diverse - diversity in terms of interests; race, nationalities, or ethnic groups; history and historical backgrounds; religion, culture and languages, etc. African unity can only be achieved by building unity in diversity, which means the diverse nature of the continent should not be seen as a liability, but a source of beauty and strength in building united, prosperous and peaceful Africa.

Africa has a rich culture and history and that should be used as an asset for building its unity. To unite Africa into a prosperous and peaceful continent cannot be achieved in one go. This unity will have to be built brick by brick.

What the AU can do is what the member countries of the AU are prepared to do. They have to show them political will to cede some of the sovereignty of the States to the AU to exercise collective leadership. We have to empower the AU to address issues in the interest of our collective will and desire. And there is no substitute to the AU in leading the continent towards unity and integration.

» Bheki Langa: A critical element of the positive trajectory of the last decade was the assertion of Africa's agenda on a global scale. The AU not only plays a role in intensifying the articulation of Africa's interests on the global stage, but also plays a critical role in fostering Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance. The advocacy movement in this regard brought together governments, businesses, workers, women, youth and other sectors of the population. As elaborated in the NEPAD documents and AU resolutions, Africa's growth and development is in the interest of all of humanity; this message can be embraced by the global community. Conversely, a slackening of such self-assertion could lead to a gradual de-prioritization of Africa's interests in the global arena.

We must therefore stress the importance of articulating Africa's agenda in a manner that recognizes the following aspects. First, the continent takes charge of and leads its own development, including finding the resources to sustain this development; second, none of us on the continent can thrive as islands of prosperity, and real progress requires some pooling of the sovereignty of nation-states in the context of regional integration; and third, using our comparative advantages to define terms of partnership with others rather than merely responding to outside agendas is key.

For Africa to take charge of its destiny, it must build its expertise to make use of opportunities and mitigate threats and to build capable states and social contracts amongst the main national and continental forces, including non-state actors; it mus pool its sovereignty for integration, and obtain the strategic acumen needed to manage the changing economic balance on the continent, so that we do not encourage unhealthy competition. In this context, the role of the AU Commission is critical. As a leader and facilitator, it must monitor and evaluate progress and embody the institutionalization of Pan-African ideas and African Renaissance beyond the leaders of a particular period or generation.

» Hassane Rabehi: Since its creation in 1963, the OAU made every effort to promote greater African economic, social, cultural and political integration within the continent.

The OAU was founded on the principle of promoting unity and cooperation among all African member states. The AU, the successor to the OAU, has embarked on a struggle for a united Africa, economic independence and development that would change the lives of Africans for the better. Among the contributions to African Renaissance by the AU, I would like to mention: (1) Adoption and implementation of the Languages Plan of Action, (2) Establishment of the African Academy of Languages in 2006 – in Bamako, (3) Strengthening the work of the Center for Linguistic and Historical Studies by Oral Tradition (CELHTO), based in Niamey, (4) The Charter for African Cultural Renaissance, adopted in Khartoum, (5) The Pan-African Cultural Festival held in Algiers, Algeria in 1965 and 2009, and (6) The African Renaissance Monument in Dakar.