Addis Ababa: The battle of Adwa was not simply a military victory but it was a victory for African self-determination, a victory for the dignity of our people, Former African Union Commission Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat underscored.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, the 129th anniversary of the Victory of Adwa marked in Ethiopia in the presence of President Taye Atsike Selesai, high-ranking government officials, and members of the diplomatic community at the historical Adwa Victory Memorial Museum in Addis Ababa.
The 129th anniversary is being celebrated under the Theme: ‘Adwa: Victory of Black People.’
In his speech delivered on the occasion, the Former African Union Commission Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat said, ‘We must remember that Adwa was not simply a military victory, it was a victory for African self-determination, a victory for the dignity of our people and, more importantly, a victory for the idea that African can chart its own destiny free from the interference of foreign powers.’
Adwa taught us that courage and unity can overturn the impossible; he elaborated citing the statement of Nelson Mandela.
The battle of Adwa was a defining victory that transcends borders and generations, Faki Mahamat said noting that it was a triumph that reshaped Africa’s destiny and continues to inspire our aspirations for a united and prosperous Africa that is at peace.
‘As we reflect on Adwa, let us mainly commemorate the past, but reignite its spirits as we tackle the new and emerging challenges of our times.’
Stating that this year’s African Union theme is justice for Africans and people of African descent through reparations, he noted that the Battle of Adwa also ignited a global demand for justice, dignity, and reparation for Africans and people of African descent.