On 25th May 2023, Africa and the world celebrated the 60th anniversary of the formation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). In 1963, African leaders confirmed their vision of African unity and took the continent on a journey of economic and political integration, carried forward by the African Union (AU) since 2002.

To commemorate this milestone, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) and the German Africa Foundation (DAS) invited to a conference on the theme “The Long Road to African Unity”. The event took place on Monday, 12th June 2023, at the Academy of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in Berlin.

Together with representatives from the African Union, African diplomats and selected experts we critically assessed the achievements, challenges as well as future perspectives with regard to integration and cooperation on the African continent. In two panels we were looking at the thematic areas of two key departments of the African Union: The first panel focussed on the area of Political Affairs, Peace and Stability (PAPS) while the second panel had a focus on the area of Economic Development and Trade (ETTIM).

Panel Session 1:

The Road to Peace and Democracy

Opening Input:

Amb. William Azumah Awinador-Kanyirige, Senior Advisor on Governance and Peace Building, Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), African Union Commission (via Zoom)

Panelists:

H.E. Amb. Tom Amolo, Ambassador of the Republic of Kenya to Germany

Dr. Martin Acheampong, Research Fellow, GIGA Institute for African Affairs

Dr. Andrews Atta-Asamoah, Programme Head, Africa Peace and Security Governance Programme, Institute for Security Studies (via Zoom)

Dr. Amandine Gnanguenon, Associate Research Fellow, UNU-CRIS (via Zoom)

Moderator: Mathias Kamp, Policy Advisor, East Africa and Multilateral Issues in Sub-Saharan Africa, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung

Panel Session 2:

The Road to Growth and Prosperity

Opening Input:

Djamel Ghrib, Director of Economic Development, Integration and Trade, Department of Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals (ETTIM), African Union Commission (via Zoom)

Panelists:

H.E. Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Germany

Dr. Olumide Abimbola, Executive Director, Africa Policy Research Institute

Dr. Mesfin Mulugeta Woldegiorgis, Economist, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena

Stefan Rouenhoff, MP, Chairman of the Africa Working Group of the CDU/CSU Parliamentary Group in the German Bundestag

Moderator: Sabine Odhiambo, Secretary General, German Africa Foundation