Addis Ababa, May 24, 2025 (FMC) — Ethiopia has reiterated its firm commitment to continental unity and deepening economic integration, with State Minister of Foreign Affairs Hadera Abera urging African nations to accelerate efforts toward inclusive growth, intra-African trade, and full economic emancipation.
Africa Day 2025 is being celebrated under the theme “Revisiting Our History, Shaping Our Future,” which aligns with the African Union’s 2025 Theme of the Year focusing on justice and reparations for Africans and people of African descent.
Delivering a message on behalf of President Taye Atske-Selassie at the Africa Day 2025 commemoration held at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Hadera highlighted the importance of removing barriers that hinder integration and advancing the goals of Agenda 2063.
“May 25 marks a pivotal moment in our collective history,” Hadera said, reflecting on the 62nd anniversary of the founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU). “We pay tribute to our forebearers whose courage, sacrifice, and unwavering conviction laid the foundations for a continent liberated from the yoke of colonialism and apartheid.”
The State Minister praised Africa’s progress over the decades, particularly in peace and security, regional cooperation, and institution-building. Highlighting the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a landmark achievement, he noted its significance as a strategic platform for economic integration and inclusive growth.
However, Hadera emphasized that Africa’s journey remains incomplete. “While political liberation has been largely achieved, the goal of full economic emancipation and integration remains a pressing and unfinished mission,” he stated, urging African countries to break down economic, infrastructural, and ideological barriers.
Addressing the theme of this year’s Africa Day, “Revisiting Our History, Shaping Our Future,” Hadera aligned the message with the African Union’s 2025 focus on reparative justice. He underscored that the call for reparations is not only about acknowledging historical wrongs but about affirming dignity, ensuring accountability, and building a future grounded in equality.
He also called for deeper solidarity between Africa and its diaspora, advocating for a unified voice to demand justice, recognition, and restitution on the global stage.
“In today’s rapidly changing global landscape, unity among African nations is more vital than ever,” he said, citing climate change, conflict, youth unemployment, and digital disruption as shared challenges that require collective response.
Emphasizing the importance of youth, innovation, and technology, Hadera said, “Investing in education, digital infrastructure, science, and innovation, including artificial intelligence and big data, is essential. These are the engines that will drive Africa’s competitiveness in the global economy.”
He concluded by reaffirming Ethiopia’s dedication to Agenda 2063, the AU’s strategic framework for transforming Africa into a global powerhouse. “Let us honor the legacy of those who came before us by fulfilling our responsibility to those who will come after,” he urged.
The celebration comes as the African Union, in its official Africa Day 2025 statement, echoed similar calls for justice, unity, and forward momentum, framing the continent as a rising global force with strategic assets and resilient economies.