Addis Ababa: An international relation expert urged the African Union (AU) to successfully navigate through the challenges it faces and demonstrate its importance as a beacon of hope for African citizens. The African Union stands at a pivotal moment in history as it prepares for the upcoming 38th AU Summit, which will focus on the theme: ‘Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations.’
According to Ethiopian News Agency, Specialist in International Relations, Nkikinamo Tussamba said at this critical juncture in history, the AU must demonstrate its ability by offering new hope for African citizens. For Angola’s expert, this theme resonates deeply with the long-standing call for accountability from former colonial powers and acknowledges the enduring impact of historical injustices.
‘Looking at the critical moment that history expects from the AU is to know how to get around the problems and demonstrate to be a new hope for African citizens,’ he elaborated. The theme for the 2025 summ
it is comprehensive, appealing not only to the upper-middle class and elites but also to the forgotten lower class.
It is necessary to understand what ancestry means is a term used to symbolize the contact one has with ancestors, grandparents, great-grandparents. For Africans, valuing this connection is crucial for demonstrating recognition and reclaiming power. This year’s theme is also essential to draw attention not only to the African continent but also to the West because it was from there that many of the African children were taken, the specialist noted.
It sends a clear message from within Africa to the international community, he said, adding that this issue has already been discussed within Pan-Africanism, he added. Moreover, he elaborated African diaspora play a fundamental role if the AU adopts a more comprehensive and proactive policy.
This policy could serve as a driving force for the AU, with its working committees creating forums within the diaspora to discuss key issues and support initiat
ives that hold the West accountable for its obligations. It is time for the AU to recognize the diaspora as a vital force in achieving its goals, and embracing this potential will undoubtedly strengthen the Union over time, he added.