NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) —Calls for unity dominated Thursday's 60th anniversary celebrations for the continent-wide organization preceding the African Union (AU) that represented 55 member states. But critics say the AU has become a paper tiger where there's plenty of talk, but not much much real clout to enforce its mandate. Africa Day events across the continent honored the founding of the AU's predecessor - The Organization of African Unity (OAU) -- whose original purpose was to fight colonialism before evolving in 2002 to incorporate the aims of defending it's members sovereignty and independence as well as encouraging their socio-economic integration. “We use Africa Day to reaffirm the importance of consolidating democracy and consolidating good governance across Africa,” Ramaphosa said. So in my own view it’s a body that needs to be completely removed,” Omari told the Associated Press.

Source: Ethiopian News May 25, 2023 16:36 UTC