Speech by Minister of State Mr Ahmed Attaf on the occasion of ‘Africa Day’

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Madam Secretary of State for African Affairs,
Mr. Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Her Excellency, the Ambassador of the sisterly Republic of Namibia, Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps accredited to Algeria,
Her Excellencies, Ambassadors, and Heads of Diplomatic Missions accredited to Algeria,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Executives and Staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Members of the distinguished media family,
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
First of all, it is a source of honor and pride for me to convey to the African family represented here today the greetings and congratulations of the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, on the occasion of our celebration of Africa Day. Congratulations to us and to you on this Africa Day, congratulations to us and to you on this Africa Day, and congratulations to us and to you on this continental milestone on which we celebrate authentic African unity and our deep-rooted African identity. This date, which commemorates the birth of our continental organization, is not a page to be folded in the annals of time without consideration or consideration. Rather, it is a milestone immortalized by the single African dream and preserved in the shared African memory as a unique legacy, a precious treasure, and a steadfast project.
This milestone invites us today to recall the roots of the unity project that unites us, to renew our steadfastness on the path established by the bearers of this project, our fathers and grandfathers, and to envision the future prospects of this ambitious, promising, and civilizational project par excellence.
It is an ambitious project that transcends the borders of our various countries to create a shared future that unites all the peoples of our continent.
It is a promising project that aims to chart the course of a new Africa: an integrated Africa, a unified Africa, a united and integrated Africa, and an Africa paving its way toward the future it seeks, empowered by the efforts of its people, their bright minds, and their ardent determination.
It is a civilizational project that has embodied, and continues to embody, Africa's ability to enrich humanity with an authentic civilizational model—a model that places humanity at the core of its priorities, a model based on the shared destiny of humanity, and a model that affirms that the values of justice and equality are not gifts to be bestowed or bestowed, but rather are inalienable rights that are not subject to disposition, prescription, selection, or discrimination.
Since the launch of this unity project in the early 1960s, Africa has taken giant steps towards liberation, unity and development. I believe, with all sincerity and honesty, that when we look into the mirror of history, we are justifiably proud of our continent's achievements on many levels:
Indeed, we are justifiably proud of the accomplishments that consolidated the independence of African countries from the grip of colonialism and their liberation from the shackles of foreign domination.
We are justifiably proud of the achievements that transformed our vision of unity into a solid institutional reality, embodied by the African Union with its various mechanisms and bodies, which work to advance the goals of economic integration, political stability, and sustainable security.
We are right to be proud of the achievements that have begun to lift injustice and oppression from our continent, restore its silenced voice on the international stage, and empower it to re-establish its priorities and defend its aspirations to assume the position it deserves as a partner, not a follower, as an initiator, not a recipient, and as a fully committed contributor to the noble goals upon which the system of international relations is based. While we celebrate all our continent's achievements, we must be fully aware that the road ahead is still long, and that this path may be even longer and more complex, given the complexities of the current situation.
The battle for African liberation is not yet complete, and the Western Sahara issue remains before our eyes and that of the international community, reminding us that there are African peoples who are still denied their right to have their say, to have their voices heard, and to determine their own destiny, in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy that have affirmed and continue to affirm. The same applies to the Palestinian cause, which our African continent has embraced, making it an integral part of the continental liberation battle and a natural extension of the struggle of African peoples against colonialism, discrimination, and occupation. Just as yesterday, the cities of Soweto, Sharpeville, Léopoldville, Setif, Guelma, and Kherrata were synonymous with slavery and crime, today Gaza is synonymous with abuse and genocide.
Our continental agenda is burdened by a massive number of crises, conflicts, and wars, unprecedented in our contemporary history, and whose repercussions have left no corner of our five continents untouched. This situation is becoming increasingly dangerous with the spread of the scourge of terrorism, which has taken hold of our African continent and transformed one of its vital spaces, the Sahel-Saharan region, into an alternative refuge and a key pillar in the wake of its decline from the rest of the world.
While our continent is striving to achieve economic integration through the implementation of the African Free Trade Area and the establishment of mechanisms and tools to support this strategic project, our world today is witnessing accelerating revolutions in pivotal fields, such as renewable energy, digitalization, artificial intelligence, robotics, and nanotechnology. These revolutions will inevitably reshape the global economy and shape the future of human civilization as a whole. The fear, all the fear, is that our African continent will fall behind in these revolutions, just as the colonial era yesterday excluded it from the great industrial revolutions and forced it to remain on the margins of their path.
All of this is occurring amid an extremely complex, sensitive, and dangerous international situation—a situation that threatens to obliterate the features of the contemporary international system and undermine its foundations, principles, and controls, as well as the institutions upon which it rests—whether political, security, economic, or social. Our greatest fear is that our continent will be among the first victims of this turbulent global situation, with its issues being ignored, its voice silenced, its standing diminished, and its position weakened. This is similar to what happened yesterday at major historical junctures, when balances were set without Africa, when laws were formulated at Africa's expense, and when rules were established without Africa having any decisive say, not even the faintest whisper. While we all acknowledge the complexities of this new landscape, both continentally and internationally, the foreign policy outlined by the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, for our country rejects this as an inevitable fate, from which there is no escape, or as an imposed destiny from which there is no return.
We do not deny, we do not deny at all, that this landscape poses significant challenges that threaten the present of our continent and the future of its generations. At the same time, however, we are fully confident that our continent possesses the capabilities, potential, wealth, and potential that qualify it to play a prominent, effective, and influential role in shaping the contours of this changing world.
Today's Africa is completely different from yesterday's Africa:
Today's Africa has established its presence among the world's most powerful economic blocs and has rightfully gained full membership in the G20.
Today's Africa advocates for its priorities and aspirations with a resounding, unified voice in all multilateral international forums, particularly in the UN Security Council.
Today's Africa has succeeded in forcing the international community to recognize the legitimacy of its historical demands, both for permanent and equitable representation in the UN Security Council and for reforming the entire global economic, financial, and monetary governance system.
Algeria warmly welcomes and blesses this growing African momentum to rectify historical injustices.
Algeria deeply appreciates the precious trust it received from its African brothers at the beginning of this year, with the election of its candidate for the position of Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission and her election to the African Peace and Security Council.
Algeria pledges to continue and intensify its efforts, through all its African platforms and within the UN Security Council, to unify Africa's position and raise its voice globally, as well as to defend Africa's interests, the aspirations of its countries, and the aspirations of its peoples.
Let me emphasize from this platform that, from the perspective of the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the issue here is not a political or strategic choice dictated by transient circumstances or circumstantial calculations, but rather a firm conviction rooted in Algeria's African identity and its historical African consciousness.
From this standpoint, and despite the occasional attempts to disturb the peace and stability of relations between Algeria and its brothers and neighbors in the Sahel-Saharan countries, Algeria remains steadfast in its positions, faithful to its principles, and utmost in its commitment to fulfilling its obligations, responsibilities, and duties with complete honesty, sincerity, and loyalty. Algeria has not and will not turn its back on its African affiliation in general, and its Sahelian neighbors in particular.
Algeria has not and will not allow the security and stability of its neighborhood and its sphere of affiliation to be tampered with, because its security and stability are inherent in the security and stability of its neighborhood and its sphere of affiliation.
Algeria remains as steadfastly committed to the sovereignty of its neighboring countries, the integrity of its national territories, and the unity of its lands and peoples as it is to its own sovereignty, integrity, and unity.
Algeria will always support, advocate, and engage in any effort aimed at confronting the challenges facing it and its brothers alike.
In light of this firm and deep-rooted commitment, Algeria highly commends the recent sound decision taken by the African Union to re-raise the issue of justice for Africa by addressing the legacy of the colonial era. The remnants of this destructive era are still evident in various aspects of the political, security, economic, and social life of the African countries concerned, and their dangers can no longer be ignored, overlooked, or ignored.
Algeria has engaged in this process with full resolve, based on the commitment of the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, to all aspects related to the issue of national memory. Algerian national memory is an integral part of the comprehensive African memory.
There is no doubt that the Algerian experience is fully aligned with the noble goals set by the African Union for this comprehensive continental process:
It is true, and absolutely true, that Africa is today demanding the criminalization of colonialism, because colonial practices on our continent remain among the most heinous crimes marked in the annals of human history in scope, brutality, and temporal extension.
It is true, absolutely true that Africa is today demanding official recognition of the crimes of colonialism, because recognition is not a political luxury, but rather a legal, moral, and historical responsibility that cannot be expedited, evaded, or postponed.
The truth, the full truth, is on Africa's side as it demands compensation and the return of its plundered property. This is not a matter of favor, favor, or generosity, but rather a legitimate entitlement and a legitimate right, recognized by international law, dictated by historical justice, and imposed by moral duty toward peoples whose rights have been denied, whose wealth has been plundered, and whose will has been subjugated over decades of aggressive, criminal, and unjust colonialism.
Long live Africa, faithful to its history and roots. Long live a united, secure, and prosperous Africa. Long live Africa, sovereign in its decisions, free in its choices, and proud in its standing among nations.
May the peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you.