Memory, Pride, and Unity: A Living Celebration of African Identity

Every year on May 25, Africa marks a highly symbolic date in the continent’s history: Africa Day. This celebration is far more than a simple historical commemoration. It serves as a true source of inspiration — a collective moment of remembrance, reflection, and commitment for African peoples and their diaspora around the world.

Established in 1963 following the creation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in Addis Ababa — which became the African Union (AU) in 2002 — this day pays vibrant tribute to the struggles for independence, dignity, unity, and sovereignty. It reflects the vision and drive of the founding fathers of a free and united Africa, committed to political emancipation and self-determination.

A History of Struggles and Shared Dreams

To celebrate Africa Day is to remember the heroic battles against colonialism, apartheid, and foreign domination — but also to acknowledge the paths of resilience, reconstruction, and affirmation pursued by African societies. It is to recognize the continent’s rich diversity: its linguistic, cultural, artistic, and spiritual heritage; its dynamic youth; its resilient women; its visionary intellectuals; and its rural and urban communities constantly innovating.

Today’s Africa is no longer confined to past narratives. It looks to the future — strengthened by its human capital, continental ambitions, and its ability to shape a development model rooted in local realities while actively engaging with globalization.

An Annual Call for Dialogue, Unity, and Civic Engagement

Across the continent and within the diasporas, Africa Day is marked by a wide range of initiatives: political forums, citizen debates, cultural events, art exhibitions, film screenings, live performances, participatory workshops, academic conferences… These activities highlight the vitality of a continent in motion, where citizens’ voices are heard and contribute to building a shared future.

They also serve as opportunities to address major contemporary challenges:

• youth and its future,
• equitable and inclusive access to quality education,
• creation of decent, sustainable, and long-term jobs,
• ethical, transparent, and participatory governance,
• peace, security, and conflict prevention,
• climate justice and environmental protection,
• regional integration and intra-African mobility,
• women’s empowerment and equal opportunities,
• digital transition, artificial intelligence, and technological innovation,
• migration, demographic growth and dividends,
• the building of the rule of law and capable democratic states,
• smart infrastructure.

Each year, the African Union proposes a central theme that highlights strategic continental priorities while guiding the coordinated efforts of institutions, Member States, development partners, and civil society actors.

2025 Theme: “Educating an Engaged African Youth: The Key to Transforming the Continent”

In 2025, the African Union places youth and education at the heart of its priorities. This choice is no coincidence: young people now represent more than 60% of Africa’s population. They are the bearers of tomorrow’s ambitions. By educating, listening to, and fully involving them, Africa can effectively meet both current and future challenges.

This year’s theme calls for deep, transformative educational reforms, aimed at building learning systems that are:

• inclusive and open to all, regardless of gender, background, or region;
• innovative, integrating digital tools, active pedagogy, and indigenous knowledge;
• adapted to local economic and social realities;
• focused on practical skills, critical thinking, creativity, and civic engagement.

This theme aligns with Agenda 2063, the African Union’s strategic roadmap to build a prosperous, integrated, peaceful, and globally influential continent.

CAFRAD’s Strategic Role: A Catalyst for Governance and Holistic Human Development

Within this continental momentum, the African Training and Research Centre in Administration for Development (CAFRAD) plays a pivotal role. Based in Rabat, Morocco, and founded in 1962, CAFRAD is the oldest pan-African intergovernmental institution dedicated to public administration modernization and capacity-building in African states.

Its action focuses on five (5) core pillars:

1. Building viable states and promoting good governance, through transparency, accountability, public ethics, and anti-corruption efforts.
2. Developing the skills of executives, leaders, and managers, via continuing education, specialized seminars, and advanced training modules.
3. Fostering institutional innovation and transformational change, supporting digitalization, emerging technologies, and soft skills development.
4. Knowledge management, through the exchange of best practices and innovative approaches, and facilitating networks and platforms for cooperation among African countries.
5. Promoting African integration and South-South cooperation, by supporting large-scale, integrative projects and strengthening Africa’s position in global value chains (GVCs), while encouraging positive, resilient, and inclusive economies.

Since the election of Dr. Coffi Dieudonné ASSOUVI as Director-General on July 9, 2024, CAFRAD has embraced the mission of becoming a continental transformation center, dedicated to shaping a new generation of ethical, authentic, visionary, bold, and transformational leaders — at the service of systemic transformation and global governance in Africa.

CAFRAD is now recognized as a leading Center of Excellence: a place of practical learning, innovative thinking, actionable knowledge, skill development, and talent incubation aligned with the implementation of Agenda 2063, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the pressing development needs of African countries.

In 2025, CAFRAD is intensifying its efforts to support young public-sector talents. Tailored training programs focus on ethical leadership, civic participation, digital transformation, and a renewed culture of public service.

A Shared Vision for Africa’s Future

Africa’s development cannot be achieved without strong institutions, responsible governance, and the active participation of its citizens, especially youth. Education stands as the indispensable foundation for this transformation. Forming a conscious, competent, and engaged generation means preparing an Africa ready to face the challenges of the century.

CAFRAD’s mission aligns with this vision. It supports the African Union’s broader objectives, while responding to the deep aspirations of African populations. It exemplifies the potential of pan-African cooperation to deliver lasting impact through collective intelligence in the service of the common good.

A Call for Collective Mobilization

Africa Day is a powerful moment full of symbolism — but above all, it is a call to action. It is a time to renew our belief in African unity, intergenerational solidarity, and each country’s ability to take control of its own destiny.

Through this celebration, African peoples reaffirm their determination to build a sovereign, bold, and open continent. They also emphasize the importance of education as a fundamental right and a lever for social transformation.

As His Excellency, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, aptly stated:

“Africa can only develop with its youth and for its youth. They are not only the future of the continent — they are its present.”

Conclusion: A Future to Build Together

On this May 25, 2025, let us honor with respect those who paved the way to freedom. Let us celebrate with pride the achievements of our continent. And above all, let us commit — together and resolutely — to building a new Africa: inclusive, innovative, rooted in its values, and open to the world.

That is why African states, Regional Economic Communities, and the African Union must fully integrate CAFRAD into the continent’s development agendas and establish a regional fund and program for the training of a new type of African leaders, to be administered by this pan-African organization.

CAFRAD is doing its part — and more. It is actively collaborating with the Tamkine Foundation on the Call for the Decade 2026–2036 as the Decade of Education.

Happy Africa Day 2025!

Long live African unity! Let the youth of the continent shine!