STATEMENT OF THE PRESIDENT AFRICA DAY 2025 [PDF]
His Imperial Highness Prince Estifanos Matewos has called for a radical inward reckoning on the continent, declaring that true justice and reparations for African people must begin within Africa itself. On occasion of the 62nd anniversary of the African Union, Prince Estifanos joined the broader Pan-African community in commemorating Africa Day 2025 themed ” Revisiting Our History, Shaping Our Future”. The Prince emphasized that while global calls for reparations are justified, African nations must first address the internal dysfunctions that continue to marginalise their own citizens.
The guiding objectives of Africa Day 2025 commemoration events across the continent are:
- Promote the AU 2025 Theme of the Year, positioning reparations and historical redress within AU frameworks for peacebuilding, development, and global advocacy.
- Facilitate high-level dialogue on innovative and implementable policy pathways for achieving reparatory justice for Africans and people of African descent.
- Celebrate Africa’s diverse cultural heritage as both a repository of memory and a dynamic driver of healing, innovation, and sustainable development.
- Foster intergenerational and diaspora dialogues that bridge past struggles with future aspirations, allowing youth, artists, civil society, and thought leaders to co-create inclusive narratives of justice, identity, and transformation.
- Reaffirm Member States’ commitment to Pan-African solidarity, resilience, and the cultural and intellectual revival of the continent.
Participants:
