Africa can be a strategic player in the world, says João Lourenço

Africa can become a strategic player in the world, said the acting president of the African Union, João Lourenço, in remarks on the occasion of Africa Day.
 
In a message commemorating the creation of the Organization of African Unity in 1963, the precursor to today’s African Union, the Angolan president, currently leading the continental bloc, emphasized that the region’s countries have the potential to offer solutions to global problems.

The Angolan leader added that the struggle for the continent’s political emancipation is a guiding principle in the face of contemporary challenges such as political fragmentation, domestic conflicts, and other scourges.

He emphasized that the African Union defends respect for the principles of solidarity, cooperation, and mutual respect to continue building a more integrated Africa, where borders become lines, not barriers.

Lourenço emphasized that the continent has the necessary means to meet the needs of its citizens, resorting primarily on its own resources and talents; however, he called for investment in education, strengthening economic integration, and supporting younger generations.

He remembered the complex challenges facing Africa, especially armed conflict and insecurity due to transnational terrorism and violent extremism, as well as intercommunal tensions, among other phenomena such as unconstitutional changes.

However, he said he maintains unwavering faith in the future of Africa, “which today more than ever embodies a continent of hope and optimism driven by a dynamic youth.”