The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, said Africa remains equipped with the means to achieve peace and prosperity, even as the continent continues to grapple with the legacies of slavery and colonization.
Speaking during the 2025 Africa Day commemoration on Sunday, Youssouf acknowledged that historical injustices still cast a shadow over the continent, particularly the enduring issue of reparative justice.
“Justice has still not been done, and reparations are slow in coming,” he stated.
Despite this, Youssouf emphasized that Africa refuses to be defined by its painful past.
He said, “Africa does not languish in the wounds and bitterness of the past,” he said. “Africa continues to make sacrifices again and again, in order to free itself from the throes of conflict, underdevelopment and war.”
Looking to the future, the chairperson highlighted Africa’s vast potential. He pointed to the continent’s youthful population, abundant natural resources, fertile land, and renewable energy as key assets for sustainable development.
With Africa’s population projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050, Youssouf said the continent has “all the assets to realize the dream of all Africans, namely, the Africa we want to integrate, peaceful and prosperous.”
Youssouf commended African countries for their economic resilience, including pre-pandemic examples of double-digit growth. He applauded the continent’s youth and women for playing vital roles in shaping Africa’s future.
Furthermore he called for greater continental unity to safeguard Africa’s wealth and promote industrialization through local value chains.
He also reaffirmed the importance of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), describing it as a strategic market designed to boost intra-African trade.
Youssouf praised Africa’s growing influence on the global stage, noting its inclusion in the G20 as a sign of increased relevance. However, he cautioned that the global order continues to sideline African interests, urging stronger leadership and self-assertion.
“It is up to us Africans to assert our values, reaffirm our convictions, and gain the respect of all nations by our capacity to weigh on the global arena,” he said.