The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and Burkinabè Abroad is commemorating Africa Day, this Friday, May 31, 2024 in Ouagadougou.
“Pan-Africanism and African sovereignty: new challenges for conscious youth”. It is under this theme that Burkina Faso invites African communities and other continents to a public debate.
According to the Minister in charge of Foreign Affairs, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, this theme is an invitation to young people to take responsibility and make constructive choices in the face of African history. “Dear young people, the future of this country rests on your shoulders and I have no doubt that you will be able to meet the challenge,” he said.
The choice of this theme, according to the organizers, is part of the dynamic of the awakening of African youth who call for a renewal for “a united and free Africa”.
- “Celebrating Africa Day amounts to advocating our attachment to the values of the African Union,” declared Minister Karamoko Traoré
The occasion allowed the Minister of Foreign Affairs to deliver a lesson in Pan-Africanism to his audience. “Pan-Africanism is a movement and political ideology that promotes the full independence of the African continent and encourages the practice of solidarity between Africans and people of African descent wherever they are in the world, regardless of their ethnic origins , their religious affiliations or their physical appearances,” he explained.
“Let’s go back to our sources”
The Minister of State, Minister in charge of the Civil Service, Bassolma Bazié, who is the sponsor of this day, gives a presentation on the sub-theme “Youth and African sovereignty”. Faced with youth, the Minister of State hoped that African countries would have a constitution that reflects the realities of their societies and that elders would organize themselves to pass the torch to the youth.
- “We must congratulate this youth and support them for a better future,” urged the Minister of State, Bassolma Bazié
Facing an audience that he held in suspense for half an hour, the Minister of State asked Africans to draw inspiration from the good organization in the villages at the time, in terms of security and living- together. “Let’s go back to our sources. As long as we do not return to our sources, we will not know where to go,” he said.
The technical advisor to the Minister of State, Minister in charge of Culture, Dr Dramane Konaté, spoke on the sub-theme “African cultural diversity and the revival of Pan-Africanism”. The communicator explained the genesis of Pan-Africanism and the importance of African culture.
If diplomats constantly talk about geopolitics, Dr Dramane Konaté insisted on the notion of “geoculture” for cultural actors. It is about the similarities and cultural values shared by certain countries. Thus, African countries must focus on what they have in common as the fathers of Pan-Africanism and Negritude did.
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- “We must fight against obscurantism”, recommended Dr Dramane Konaté
It should be remembered that Africa Day is celebrated every May 25. The 2024 edition saw the presence of several nationalities, members of the Coordination of Communities Living in Burkina Faso (CCVBF), pupils and students, diplomats and directors of institutions.
Cryspin Laoundiki
Lefaso.net
