The Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity issued a Declaration (the Sirte Declaration) calling for the establishment of an African Union, with a view, inter alia, to accelerating the process of integration in the continent to enable it play its rightful role in the global economy while addressing multifaceted social, economic and political problems compounded as they are by certain negative aspects of globalization.
The launching of the AU marked a significant chapter in the history of the continent in that, its vision and objectives focused on “People centered development and transformative agenda”.
•	Promote sustainable development at the economic social culture levels and Coordinate and harmonize the policies between the existing and future Regional Economic Communities for the gradual attainment of the objectives of the Union
African Union recognises football as an effective tool to attain social and economic transformation on the continent. In June 2012, African Union Commission (AUC) and Confederation of African Football (CAF) signed an MOU aimed at using football as a tool to promote development, peace and humanitarian objectives for social change in Africa in line with the CAF statutes which provide as follows, “support of the actions of the African Union and non-governmental organisations related to youth, sport and culture”.
AUC and CAF worked in collaboration during AFCON 2013 in South Africa and in other CAF competitions to promote and convey positive AU messages and social causes which includes the ratification of the African Youth Charter, Make Peace Happen, Fight against Malaria, Fight against HIV/AIDS, and Violence against Women.
Following the outbreak of the Ebola virus in 2013, African Union Support to Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA) was endorsed and established by the sixteenth Extraordinary Session of Heads of States and Governments on September 8th, 2014. The ASEOWA is currently deploying medical and human resource capacities to fight the Ebola Virus outbreak in West Africa.
Cognizance of the gravity of the situation and under the spirit of unity and brotherhood, the African Union calls neighboring regional economic communities and Member states’ populations to support the Ebola-affected countries.
In AFCON 2015, AUC and CAF and other partners like United Against Malaria and Street Football World will work in collaboration to promote Africa’s positive image, achievements such as democratic governance, economic growth, integration of women and youth, rising middle class, technological innovations, vast resources, and Africa’s place in the international arena, fight against conflicts, disease and advocating the social causes amongst other, the future vision “Agenda 2063”.
The thrust of “Agenda 2063” is a program of social, economic and political rejuvenation that links the past, present and the future in order to create a new generation of Pan Africanists that will harness the lessons learnt and use them as building blocks to consolidate the hope and promises of the founding parents for a true renaissance of Africa. In their 50th anniversary solemn declaration, the Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU), while acknowledging past successes and challenges, re-dedicated themselves to the continent’s accelerated development and technological progress. The choice of a 50 year period of implementation for the “Agenda 2063” must be understood within the context of the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU); and the need for the continent to take stock of achievements, successes/ failures and map out a long-term vision as well as set goals and targets. In operational terms, the “Agenda 2063” would be a rolling plan of 25 years, 10 years, 5 years and short term action plans.
The AU is determined to increase efforts towards women empowerment realizing their role and contribution to bring about community and National development. We want to put women and youths at the fore front of Africa’s Development Agenda 2063 in different sectors like agriculture, rural livelihood, education, health, without neglecting sports. We are determined to see more involvement of women in all kinds of sports, football included. We expect to see more women football competitions that will make our girls shine not only in Africa, but in the world at large.
2015 AFCON AUC slogan will be “We are Africans- today we celebrate Africa” aiming at bringing Africans together to celebrate their successes while individually and collective tackle their challenges but always cherish their prosperity, unity and brotherhood.
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: [email protected] I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia