Elçilik Aktiviteleri

May: Africa Day

Africa celebrates Africa Day on May 25 each year and as a proudly African country, South Africa joins in Africa’s celebration. Africa Day is the annual commemoration of the foundation of the Organisation of African Unity on May 25, 1963. It is celebrated in various countries on the African continent, as well as around the world.

Africa has come a long way from that time, having evolved through the Organisation of African Unity to the African Union today. When the African Union was established in September 1999 with the Sirte Declaration issued by the Organisation of African Unity, its aims were to inter alia, accelerate the process of integration in the continent, to enable it play its rightful role in the global economy while addressing multifaceted social, economic and political problems compounded as they are by certain negative aspects of globalisation. The main objectives of the OAU then ie to promote unity and solidarity among African States; to coordinate and intensify cooperation for development; to safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Member States and to promote international cooperation within the framework of the United Nations are still carried forward today under the African Union, despite the many challenges the continent still faces.

Turkey-Africa relations have strengthened and deepened in recent years to the mutual benefit of both African countries and Turkey. The South African Embassy will be participating in the Africa Day celebration in Ankara on 25 May hosted by the Dean of African Embassies and in cooperation with all African Embassies in Turkey. Other events hosted by the African Embassies include an African Day Golf Tournament on 16 May, an African Friendship Football game on 23 May and an African Day Public Lecture on 25 May. Further enquiries can be made with the Embassy of Rwanda in Ankara.

The South African Embassy in cooperation with the other African Embassies looks forward to the event and hosting our Turkish friends and colleagues.

Ambassador P I Malefane
South African Embassy in Ankara, Turkey