PURPOSES: Today, with all fifty-four countries in Africa becoming independent, in addition in celebrating the creation of the African Union, Africa Day has become an occasion to celebrate the African Continent history through its the wonderful and diverse cultures, including its music, art, fashions, unique fabric designs, dance, cuisines, its sporting accomplishments, and technological advancement. The Total population as of 2024 is about 1.5 billion, with a growth rate of about 100 million every three years. The total fertility rate (births per woman) for Africa is 4.1 as of 2024, the highest in the world. The current population of Africa is 1,545,431,618 as of Tuesday, May 20, 2025 based on the latest United Nations data. Statistically, Africa is young and female. Over 60% of the population is under 25, and women make up more than half of the continent [according to UNFPA’s ‘World Population’ report]. Yet, in 2024, only 7 African countries had parliaments with more than 35% of female representation. Youth-led initiatives receive less than 1% of global development financing. Across many member states, youth continue to be excluded from policy co-creation. This is not by accident. It is the residue of a history that placed power in the hands of a few and promised progress sometime in the distant future. African women like Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Albertina Sisulu, Miriam Makeba, and Wangari Maathai redefined protest, politics, and the planet. These were not just cultural icons; they were architects of resistance. In post-independence Africa, women did not wait for seats at the table—they built their own. They organised, campaigned, and led, long before policy frameworks began to mention “gender parity.”At the multilateral level, African women have broken barriers too. Ms. Amina J. Mohammed, the second African woman to serve as UN Deputy Secretary-General after Ms. Asha-Rose Migiro of Tanzania, didn’t just rise—she reshaped the narrative. At the African Union, Ms. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma became the first female Chairperson of the AU Commission, setting institutional standards for gender parity that continue to influence today’s leadership structures. In politics, the story is equally powerful. At the same time, Africa’s youth are also rising— and doing so boldly and loudly. From climate action movements in the Sahel to tech innovation hubs in Kigali and Nairobi, young Africans are leading the way and not just waiting for invitations. They are digitally savvy, socially conscious, and politically engaged. They are demanding more than just words. They are tired of rhetoric. They want access. They want capital. They want power. We must respond not with more panels and promises, but with structural change. That means enshrining youth quotas in public office. It means directly funding grassroots, youth and women-led organisations. It means rethinking leadership, not as something one can only get after age 40, but as something one grows into through mentorship, access, and vision. It also means acknowledging that reparations are not only about the past—they are about restoring futures. Futures stolen through systemic exclusion. This includes the exclusion of women and youth from economic, political, and social space. If we are serious about justice for Africans and people of African descent, we must be committed to redistributing opportunity and power.

FORUM: “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations.” Africa Day 2025. This year’s observance will honor the memory of those who suffered under slavery and colonialism, while asserting the right of Africa and its diaspora to truth, justice, and restoration. History rarely remembers those who waited quietly. In Africa, it is those who dare to act, to resist, to lead, and to dream aloud who have shaped the continent’s most defining moments. As we mark Africa Day 2025, under the African Union’s theme “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations”, we are reminded that justice is not a destination—It is a continuous demand for truth, for dignity, and for leadership that reflects the realities of our people. Now more than ever, that demand must be inclusive. The Africa We Want, as envisioned in Africa’s Agenda 2063, cannot be built without the full power of its majority: its women and youth. Yet these very groups— the bearers of innovation and agents of transformation—remain disproportionately underrepresented, underfunded, and undervalued. The commemoration seeks to Promote the AU 2025 Theme of the Year, positioning reparations and historical redress within AU frameworks for peacebuilding, development, and global advocacy; To Facilitate high-level dialogue on innovative and implementable policy pathways for achieving reparatory justice for Africans and people of African descent; To Celebrate Africa’s diverse cultural heritage as both a repository of memory and a dynamic driver of healing, innovation, and sustainable development; To Foster intergenerational and diaspora dialogues that bridge past struggles with future aspirations, allowing youth, artists, civil society, and thought leaders to co-create inclusive narratives of justice, identity, and transformation; To Reaffirm Member States’ commitment to Pan-African solidarity, resilience, and the cultural and intellectual revival of the continent. This Africa Day let us move beyond celebration. Let us commit to reclamation of history, of voice, and of leadership. Let us tell the stories of, not just of what we have survived, but also of what we are building— a continent where girls can lead revolutions, where youth can set national agendas, and where justice is not abstract—but actionable. We are not waiting to be included. We are here to transform!Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #25May, #AfricaDay, #YearofReparations, #Agenda2063.

EVENTS: On Saturday 24th May 2025; starting at 10:00 am. (GMT+3) at the African Union headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The African Union will be celebrating Africa Day 2025 and its 62nd anniversary marking the establishment of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) (1963-2025) now the African Union (AU). The Commemoration is organized by the African Union Commission through its Directorate of Citizens and Diaspora (CIDO), in collaboration with AU Member States, AU Organs and Regional Economic Communities (RECs). Under the theme “Revisiting Our History, Shaping Our Future”.The commemorative event will bring together, among others: Representatives from AU Member State, the Permanent Representatives’ Committee (PRC); the African Union Commission, AU Organs and AU Specialized Agencies; Regional Economic Communities (RECs); Women and Youth representatives; Civil Society Organisations; Development Partners; UN Agencies; Diaspora community and media representatives. Journalists are invited to be part of the commemoration and cover the Event on Saturday 24th May 2025 starting from 10H00am at the AU Headquarters. The day will also be marked with Exhibition, entertainment and cultural showcases; Media interviews
and a Group photo. For further information please contact us, odaia@africa-union.org; Register to participate and Watch the livestream!

STATEMENTS: Read the statements made by the Chairperson of the African Union, the Chairperson of the AU Commission (AUC), Heads of State and Government, Representative of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Ethiopia, the Chairperson of the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent the President of the African Union Staff Association among others.

1. Message of Ms. Mpemba, until recently the AU Special Envoy on Youth, is now the Special Advisor on Youth and Women to African Union Chairperson.

2. Africa Day 2025 Message of President of Ghana H.E. John Dramani Mahama.

3. Africa Day 2025 Message of President of Angola, H.E. João Lourenço.

4. Message of the AUC Chairperson on the occasion of Africa Day, 25 May, 2025.

“Throughout, we will continue standing with Africa to silence the guns, tackle terrorism, and safeguard human rights for all. On this Africa Day, let us recommit to not only addressing past wrongs, but also to building a sustainable future for the people of Africa grounded in peace, dignity, and opportunity for all.” Read the Statement of the United Nations Secretary-General on the occasion of Africa Day 2024, May 25th.