Ethiopia is getting ready to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of African Union. The Golden Jubilee will be celebrated with a variety of programs including cultural shows, panel discussions, documentary films, outdoor and indoor music extravaganza, mass sport, postage to stamp inaugurations. Ethiopia hopes the event will highlight the eventful journey Ethiopia and the organization made together in the past 50 years.

The celebrations start this month and will run until May 25th, which is the actual date of the establishment of the OAU in Addis Ababa 50 years ago. A National Committee composed of seven sub-committees, which are drawn from various government offices, has been putting together to lead the activities lined up to mark the occasion colorfully.

The celebration is meant to reflect Ethiopia’s unwavering commitment to the ideals of the OAU/AU and the active role it played in the Organization beginning with the formative stages of the establishment of the OAU, throughout the decolonization process, the post-independence era and the present period. In the past 50 years, Ethiopia has developed a special relationship with the OAU/AU working with it closely in realizing the vision articulated by the founding fathers 50 years ago. This cooperation has manifested itself in practical action in terms of promoting Africa’s political, economic and social agenda in a wide range of issues, such as conflict resolution, peacekeeping and regional integration as well as the promotion of democracy and good governance.

Source The Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs