Jean Ping of Gabon is the current Chair of the African Union Commission. He has expressed the notion that Chad and Sudan will not go to war.
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African Intellectuals Meet in Dakar to Brainstorm on the United States of Africa
Dakar, 28 July, 2009 - Me. Abdoulaye Wade, President of the Republic of Senegal, on 27 July 2009, chaired the opening ceremony of the Symposium on the United States of Africa at the Méridien Président of Dakar, in the presence of Mr. Jean Ping, Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Mr. Abdoulie Janneh, Under-Secretary General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
Organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Senegal and the Cheikh Anta Diop University, the symposium grouping African intellectuals is aimed at brainstorming on the way forward towards achieving the United States of Africa.
In his opening address, President Wade commended the University of Cheikh Anta Diop their initiative to bring together intellectuals and researchers from the African continent and the Diaspora, so that they can contribute to the struggle for African unity. He urged the African intellectuals to be realistic and courageous so as to ensure the united and peaceful Africa. He said all possible forms of integration should be considered “from the most direct, radical and complete or “maximalist” form; to the orderly and gradual progress or primary Federations”, he explained.
President Wade urged the African intellectuals to set up an African intellectual committee for the United States of Africa and to address the economic and monetary issues, including the possibility to adopt a common African currency.
Mr. Jean Ping, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, on his part, welcomed the Symposium which he said was timely, given that Africa has embarked into a new phase of its road map which is the transformation of the AU Commission into an African Union Authority. He said this Symposium is an indication that a Member State of the African Union, namely Senegal, is willing and determined to contribute to the efforts of the AU in the ongoing process towards a Union Government and the United States of Africa.
Mr. Ping called on African intellectuals to play a more active role to identify appropriate solution to achieve the United States of Africa. He said this project can only become reality through the commitment of the African Heads of State and Government along side Africans from all walks of life, including the youth. Chairperson Ping reiterated the need for Africa to speak with one voice. (See complete speech of Chairperson Ping on the AU Website: www.africa-union.org).
Mr. Abdoulie Janneh, Executive Secretary of the ECA, on his part, said people from all walks of life within the African society should be involved in the debate on the United States of Africa. He underscored the necessity to mobilize African Member States to work hand in hand in tackling the existing and emerging challenges Africa is currently faced with, such as the economic and financial crisis, climate change and food crisis among others.
In his address, the Chancellor of Cheikh Anta Diop University, Professor Abdou Salam Sall, stressed on the urgent need for African Universities to take concrete steps in achieving the United States of Africa. The Chancellor, who was also speaking on behalf of the Scientific Committee, underlined that for Africa to effectively participate in the process towards the United States of Africa, the continent has to take into account its history, cultural continuity, languages, economic grow, science and technology among others.
Representing the Diaspora at the Symposium, Mr. Molefi Kete Asante, expressed the desire of Africans living outside the continent to see a united and strong Africa that embraces diversity. The Symposium on the United States of Africa ends on Thursday 30 July 2009.
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