Kigali, 25 May 2019 - Rwanda joined the rest of the World, especially Africans, to celebrate African Liberation Day under the theme: “The Future of Africa: Challenges and Prospects”. Organized by the Pan-African Movement (PAM) Rwanda, the one-day conference that took place at Intare Conference Arena, was structured in panels grouped into four main thematic areas covering social, economic, and Governance aspects in the context of Africa.

It brought together members of the Pan African Movement in the country, diplomatic corps, politicians as well as academia among others.

The Speaker of the lower chamber of deputies, Hon. Donatille officiated the conference. In her opening remarks, she said that African countries and peoples of Africa have overcome various challenges such as slavery, colonialism and apartheid but called for reinforced African solidarity to defeat neocolonial interference within African affairs.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Richard Sezibera took part in a panel discussion on ''shaping Africa's future on the world stage'' alongside Charles Munyaneza, Commissioner in Pan African Movement Rwanda's Chapter and  Fodé Ndiaye, UN Resident Coordinator in Rwanda.

Minister Sezibera said that Africa should work hard and use its natural and human resources to double efforts to boost its development and its contribution to the global development. ‘’Africa has everything in place; the right policies and an increasing committed leadership across the continent. The question is how do we implement all this! We need to get our act together, speak with one voice and implement what we have agreed on’’, said Minister Sezibera.

Speaking on Africa's future on the world stage, Minister Sezibera said that the rise of other centers of power means that ‘’we as Africans have space to negotiate our role on global stage if we are smart enough because there are many other actors, there is no one dominant actor. We have space to claim.’’

Fodé Ndiaye, the UN resident coordinator said some countries in Africa have leadership without management, those with management without leadership and those with neither of the two.

On 25 May 1963, thirty-one African Heads of State convened a meeting to establish the Organization of African Unity (OAU). They renamed African Freedom Day which had been declared so on 15th April 1958, the "African Liberation Day" (ALD) and changed its date to May 25th. Since then, 25 May is celebrated annually across Africa and around the World as the Africa Day.

The celebration marks each year’s progress in the liberation of Africa and symbolizes the determination of the people of Africa to free themselves from the yoke of foreign domination and exploitation which has a long and glorious history.

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