NATION-WIDE BROADCAST ON AFRICAN
LIBERATION DAY
The first conference of the
independent African states was held in Accra, Ghana, on April 15, 1958. It was
decided then to celebrate this historic day as African Freedom Day. Until
recently, April 15 was celebrated throughout our continent as African Freedom
Day.
However, two years ago today
in May the Summit Conference of the Independent African States, which was
convened in Our Capital City of Addis Ababa, decreed that May 25, the day on
which the historic Charter of the Organization of African Unity was signed, be
celebrated every year as African Liberation Day. Accordingly today is celebrated
as African Liberation Day.
The African Unity Charter
was signed two years ago today. Within this brief period much has been
accomplished that augurs well for African Unity. In accordance with the
resolution of the first Assembly of African Heads of State and Government held
in Cairo last year, the headquarters of the Organization of African Unity has
been established here in Addis Ababa. Under its Secretary-General, His
Excellency Mr. Diallo Telli, of Guinea, the Organization is successfully
discharging its responsibilities and commitments.
The Ethiopian people, who
have struggled and made untold sacrifices for their independence and freedom
for thousands of years – an independence that has been a beacon for all of
Africa – today celebrate this day together with all Africans by consolidating
their freedom and independence with the freedom and independence of their
African brothers in the spirit of Modern Ethiopianism.
This year, two sister
African states – Zambia and Gambia – have won independence and they have joined
the family of independent African states. We share their joy and We extend
again, as We did on the occasion when they won their independence, Our sincere
felicitations. We are anxiously awaiting the day when those Africans in the
dependent territories break the shackles of foreign tutelage and become masters
of their own fate.
On this solemn day, all of
us must pause and remember the plight of Our African brothers who are under
foreign rule and who are desperately struggling to win their freedom, their
basic fundamental human rights.
Instead of granting their
rightful freedom and independence to the indigenous Africans in Angola,
Mozambique and Portuguese Guinea, the Portuguese Government has intensified
even more its campaign of ruthless suppression of African freedom fighters in
these territories, under the outmoded, illogical pretext that these territories
are part of Portugal. In concert with the other African members of the United
Nations Organization, Ethiopia has never ceased advocating at United Nations
and other international conferences that the Portuguese Government should grant
independence to each and every territory under its rule.
Rhodesia
The
recent events in Southern Rhodesia are cause for alarm – not only is the fate
of the people in the territory in jeopardy but international peace is also
threatened. A white minority Government in the territory is daily arresting,
and arbitrarily persecuting African freedom fighters, particularly their
leaders, to suppress the national freedom movements. This minority government
has even taken drastic steps to declare a colonial government. Each and every
government and the peoples of the world who value fundamental human rights, and
particularly We Africans, must oppose, with one voice, this dangerous and
unprecedented scheme of the white minority government in the territory. The
United Nations Anti-Colonial Committee of which Ethiopia is a member, is
presently visiting Africa to follow closely the dangerous situation in Southern
Rhodesia.
In South Africa and in South-West Africa,
the policies of apartheid and oppression are becoming increasingly unbearable.
The South African Government is accelerating its ruthless campaign: a methodological
campaign of arresting daily, detaining without trial and torturing the Africans
and their leaders who are struggling for their fundamental human rights and
freedom. All the peace-loving countries of the world must act together to force
the colonial governments of South Africa and Portugal to desist from these
policies – policies which are inhuman, policies which deny basic human rights,
policies which are detrimental to the peace and security of the entire world –
and grant independence and freedom to these oppressed people.
To the U.N.
The Assembly of the African Heads of State
and Government has authorized the Foreign Ministers of Senegal and Algeria to
bring the cases of racial discrimination and oppression in South Africa, the
inhuman colonial rule of the Portuguese Government and the dangerous situation
in Southern Rhodesia, before the Security Council of the United Nations to find
permanent solutions to the unrelenting struggles of the African governments and
people. As a result the entire world is today more conscious of these pressing
problems.
From
discussions in the United Nations in recent years, We have cause to believe that
some friendly nations fully support the efforts to impose an economic boycott
on South Africa and Portugal; it is unfortunate that some great powers who have
been entrusted with the maintenance of international peace and security have
not co-operated in these worthy efforts. These powers are the main obstacles to
an effective economic boycott of South Africa and Portugal.
The establishment of the Organization of
African Unity, the concerted action of the member-states and the pooling of the
aid to Our brethren African freedom fighters, have helped to revive and
strengthen as well as intensify the liberation movements throughout Africa. For
this We are grateful to the Liberation Committee of the nine African States, of
which Ethiopia is a member. On this day, we should all recollect with gratitude
the support of all those friendly nations in Our endeavour in the United
Nations and other international conferences to free Africa of all the colonial
vestiges.
Next Assembly
It will be recalled that the Cairo
Assembly of the Heads of State and Government decided to convene the Second
Assembly of the Heads of State and Government in Accra, Ghana, in September
this year.
Because of misunderstandings among certain
member states of the Organization of African Unity, voices have been
occasionally raised recently against the convocation of the Assembly in Accra.
Nonetheless, the regular Assembly of the Heads of State and Government was, in
the first place, designed to find peaceful solutions, through deliberations and
frank exchange of views to such misunderstandings among member-states. We
believe, therefore, that any change in the venue of the next Assembly will make
no major dif-ference. Consequently We have despatched Our Minister of State for
Foreign Affairs to West Africa, with personal messages from Us, to mediate with
the leaders of the West African states concerned.
We earnestly hope that the member-states of the Organization of African
Unity will meet in Accra in September in accordance with the decision of the
first Assembly of the Heads of State and Government.
On this day, We extend Our fraternal greetings to all Our brethren
Africans who are still suffering under foreign colonial rule. We reiterate that
Ethiopia, in co-operation with the member-states of the Organization of African
Unity, will always continue to give her full support for their just struggles
to win their inalienable rights to freedom and independence and to be masters
of their own destiny.
May Almighty God assist us in endeavours.
May
26, 1965.
Selected Speeches of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie
– page 276 –
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