Feature story

On Africa Day, African ecumenical leader urges governments to prioritize youth development

As Africans across the globe celebrated Africa Day, Rev. Dr Fidon Mwombeki, general secretary of the All Africa Conference of Churches, urged governments to make youth a key pivot of the developmental agenda.

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Everlyn Angaika participates in a trauma healing workshop at the Good Shepherd Peace Center in Kit, South Sudan. Sponsored by Solidarity with South Sudan and building on the work of Capacitar, the workshops help displaced people and others affected by South Sudan's violence to learn body-based practices that empower people to use their inner wisdom to heal and transform themselves in order to heal injustice and build peace in their families and communities.

Photo:
Paul Jeffrey
By Fredrick Nzwili
Fredrick Nzwili is a freelance journalist based in Nairobi, Kenya.
03 June 2022

According to the leader, the Africa-wide ecumenical grouping recognised that the future of the continent lay in its ability to harness the “potential of the young people as powerful agents of change.”

“They need to be given the right tools and motivation to deliver an emerging Africa. Africa is our home and our future and our journey remains forward,” said Mwombeki, a pastor from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, in a statement.

Africa Day—marked annually on 25 May—celebrates the achievements of the African Union (formerly the Organization of African Unity). On this day, the people and their governments reflect on the common challenges the continent faces in the global environment.

On 25 May 1963, heads of state from newly independent African governments formed the Organization of African Unity to push for the freedom of other African countries still under the yoke of colonialism and apartheid. The organization was also mandated to promote unity and solidarity among states, among other roles.

But in 2002, the heads of state dissolved the Organization of African Unity and replaced it with the African Union. When they unveiled the organization, the presidents anticipated a people-centered organization, that would be more responsive to the needs of the people and that could prioritize inclusive social and economic development.

Thirty years on, the organization has made some progress in tackling some of the continent's problems, but more—including conflicts, threats of terrorism, poverty and food insecurity, in a list of others, continued to complicate the people's lives.

Mwombeki said he was happy that the African Union existed and was working to improve the lives of the people in Africa.

“There are several things we are happy with, but they (African Union) are a work in progress,” said the leader in an interview. “We see the inadequacy of the African Union, because of its structure, because of insufficient support from heads of state.”

“They (heads of state) also make so many agreements, which they don’t follow-up and there is no enforcement mechanism, which makes the African Union look like it’s not effective,” he added.

The leader said the grouping was reminding member states of their pledge, including re-dedicating Africa towards the attainment of what is known as the pan-African vision of an integrated, prosperous, and peaceful Africa driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.

“We expect that they meet the expectation of the African people. We are still asking them to do more to fulfill their promises. Some of the governments do pay their membership fees,” said Mwombeki.

The grouping calls on African governments to focus on the welfare of the citizens by aligning their developmental agenda with ongoing structural transformations, increased peace and reduction in the number of conflicts, among others.