The African Union High Representative for Silencing the Guns, Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, has called on Africans to stand firmly in defence of their dignity, heritage, and identity, warning that the continent is growing “too timid” in the face of historical and ongoing injustices.
Dr. Chambas made the remarks on Saturday, December 6, during a commemorative symposium marking his 75th birthday at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC). Speaking to attendees, he assessed Africa’s position in the global arena, highlighting centuries of exploitation, racism, and marginalisation.
“We are becoming too timid even to defend our dignity as African people. It is not acceptable,” he said. “We have been victims of colonialism, slavery, neo-colonialism today, and racism in North America and Europe. It is about time that we started standing up to defend our dignity as an African people.”
Dr. Chambas urged citizens, intellectuals, policymakers, and cultural leaders to reclaim the narrative of African history and assert their agency with confidence.
He praised the work of cultural institutions, including the Pan-African Heritage Museum, for protecting and projecting the “African personality.”
“We must begin to defend our history and heritage, and not allow others to demean us as a people,” he said, stressing that global trends make such efforts more urgent than ever.
The former ECOWAS and United Nations diplomat also outlined a vision for African progress rooted in unity, human rights, stability, and the full utilisation of the continent’s demographic and natural wealth.
“We just want to live in our countries peacefully, in dignity, with our rights respected, and to prosper by harnessing our tremendous resources, our youth, and women who have such vitality and dynamism,” he said.
Dr. Chambas expressed optimism that solidarity and self-determination could help Africans build a future worthy of their aspirations.
“If we are all united in this, we can, together, make Africa a better continent for our generations and generations yet to come,” he said, thanking attendees for their support and calling their presence “an affirmation of our collective will to fight for a dignified and prosperous Africa.”
