24 May 2025 | State House.
Today, as we commemorate Africa Day 2025, we mark 62 years since the founding of the Organisation of African Unity - now the African Union - a bold and visionary act by our forebears in the pursuit of unity, dignity, and self-determination for all Africans.
This year’s African Union theme, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations,” compels us to reflect not only on our shared history, but on the unfinished work of justice. It challenges us to confront the lasting scars of colonisation, slavery, and systemic racism - forces that have shaped global inequalities and hindered Africa’s full potential for far too long.
For Seychelles, our identity as a small island nation is inseparable from this broader African story. Though separated by sea, we are rooted in the same historical truths - born from the legacies of colonisation and slavery. We do not hide from this history; we honour it. It shapes our culture, strengthens our resilience, and deepens our solidarity with our African brothers and sisters across the continent.
We stand united with all African nations, particularly those still grappling with the compounded burdens of historical injustice and present-day inequity. In that spirit, we reaffirm our commitment toAgenda 2063 - Africa’s bold blueprint for a peaceful, prosperous, and integrated continent.
As we remember the courage and sacrifice of those who came before us, let us also reimagine a future where Africa’s people, lands, and cultures thrive, where justice is not a dream, but a lived reality.
On this Africa Day, may we renew our collective resolve to pursue justice, celebrate unity, and build a continent where every generation can rise and flourish.
Happy Africa Day!
