| Today is: |
|
Monday, 5 January
Tuesday, 6 January
Wednesday, 7 January
Africa Day
by Frann LeachAfrica Day is commemorated on 25th May every year in most states which are members of the African Union (AU), although the biggest displays are undoubtedly to be found in those where the population has the least freedom. It commemorates the founding of the Organisation of African Unity in 1963, which became the African Union in July 2002 after amalgamating with the African Economic Community.
There are 52 members of the AU: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Western Sahara (SADR), São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Mauritania is currently suspended, and Morocco withdrew in 1984.
The African Union has recently gained a higher profile internationally as a result of its peacekeeping activities in Darfur.
| ©2007 Frann Leach. All rights reserved. | Back to top |
