The President of Namibia, Dr. Hage Geingob, has commended the African Union (AU) for achieving what some thought would be impossible - a free, democratic, self-governing and most importantly an Africa without incessant civil wars.
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He said when the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was formed, as it was then known before it metamorphosed to AU, its primary mandate was Africa's decolonization.
Geingob noted that in light of Its commitment to freeing Africa, acting at state level, without sacrificing state sovereignty, OAU was largely transaction in nature and it was able to promote unity and cooperation amongst African states.
The Namibian president noted that in order to better fulfill its mandate, the AU placed emphasis on the need for self-financing with the understanding that if Africa aims to achieve its developmental aspirations, Africans should fund such efforts in this regard.
Geingob said this made African leaders to decide in 2016 that institutional reforms of the AU were urgent and necessary, given the AU's expected role in driving the Africa We want under Agenda 2063.