- Title: KENYA: Africa Day celebrations clouded by South Africa crisis
- Date: 24th May 2008
- Summary: VARIOUS OF A TRADITIONAL MOZAMBICAN DANCE TROUPE
- Embargoed: 8th June 2008 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Kenya
- Country: Kenya
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVA9T714FED7SECU6MB41KYYFOTT
- Story Text: Africa Day pre-celebrations in Nairobi are attended by participants from across the continent, with some calling for a quick solution to the crisis in South Africa.
As the world gears up to celebrate Africa Day on Sunday (May 25), crises on the continent remain great concerns for Africa.
Africa Day is the annual commemoration on May 25 of the 1963 founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) that was the final symbol of Africa's independence.
One of the major tasks that the African Union is committed to is making plans to work towards a union government and ultimately, a United States of Africa.
"To many of us this is a highly important day, very significant and particularly now when leaders are considering what further steps to take to consolidate what has been achieved at the individual nations and also for building closer cooperation among the African countries," said Nickolas Bwakira, an Africa Union official.
In Nairobi, exhibiters from various African countries got together to showcase art, cuisine and music.
But even in celebration the concern over the ongoing crisis in South Africa dominated conversations.
Attacks on African immigrants have killed at least 42 people and the army has been deployed to help stop the violence that has threatened to destabilize Africa's largest economy.
At least 25,000 people have been forced from their homes in 11 days of attacks by mobs that accuse immigrants of taking jobs and fuelling crime.
Police say 550 people have been injured in the attacks and 519 arrested.
"A lot of Africa is no longer in conflict and we have seen a lot of progress particularly in West Africa, but at the same time we see xenophobia, hatred and violence in the republic of South Africa which must be a sure testimony to the fact that African affairs and Pan-Africanism must not be a matter for foreign affairs but a matter for domestic affairs. How is it that South Africans after ten years of African Renaissance and NEPAD could turn on their brother and sister Africans? It is unbelievable," said OXFAM Pan Africa Director who attended the celebrations in Nairobi.
The theme of this year's Africa Day celebrations is Meeting the Millennium Development Goals set to improve the standard of living for the world's poor by 2015. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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