AFRICA DAY, 25 May 2026, OFFICIAL STATEMENT

 

On this 63rd anniversary of the founding of the Organisation of African Unity — the institution whose spirit and ambitions live on in the African Union — the African Democratic Alliance for Freedom and Progress (ADAFP) extends its warmest greetings to all African peoples, governments, civil society organisations, and democratic movements across our great continent.

Africa Day is not merely a date on a calendar. It is a covenant — a reminder of the historic pledge made in Addis Ababa on 25 May 1963 by Africa’s founding fathers to chart a path of unity, sovereignty, and self-determination. Sixty-three years on, that covenant remains both an inspiration and a challenge. ADAFP reaffirms its commitment to advancing its ideals through democratic governance, liberal values, and the deepening of continental integration.

 

May 2026 has been a month of significant activity for ADAFP, reflecting our commitment to turning principles into practice.

On 7 May 2026, ADAFP organised the “Democracy in Action” conference in Johannesburg, South Africa — a landmark event that brought together democratic actors, civil society leaders, academics, and policymakers from across Africa to examine the state of democracy on the continent and chart a collective way forward. The conference was held in conjunction with the in-person meeting of the ADAFP Executive Committee, which deliberated on the Alliance’s strategic priorities and institutional development.

On the margins of that event, ADAFP was proud to formalise an agreement with the University of Johannesburg to establish the ADAFP Think Tank, to be directed by Dr. Khulu Mbatha. This research institution will serve as the intellectual engine of the Alliance, producing policy-relevant research and analysis on democracy, governance, security, and development in Africa.

THE REPORT ON SECURITY AND DEMOCRACY IN AFRICA 2026

This month, ADAFP also published the inaugural edition of its “Report on Security and Democracy in Africa” — an annual publication that assesses the state of democratic governance and human security across the continent. The report provides rigorous, evidence-based analysis to inform policymakers, civil society, and the international community. ADAFP is proud to contribute to the landscape of African knowledge production and policy discourse.

 

Today, on Africa Day itself, ADAFP President and Leader of Build One South Africa (BOSA), Dr. Mmusi Maimane, delivers a major address at the Women’s Jail, Constitutional Hill Precinct, Johannesburg, under the title: “South Africa, Africa and the Future of Migration: Responding to Xenophobia with Law, Leadership, and Continental Vision.”

At a moment when xenophobic sentiment and anxiety over immigration are a troubling feature of public discourse in South Africa and beyond, Dr. Maimane will articulate a principled and practical vision — one that defends citizens, upholds the rule of law, strengthens immigration administration, and advances the cause of a more integrated and prosperous African continent. ADAFP fully endorses this vision and stands behind Dr. Maimane’s courageous leadership on this issue.

 

Across Africa and beyond, member parties and organisations of the Alliance have marked Africa Day with events, public statements, and civic initiatives — each a demonstration of our shared commitment to democracy, freedom, and African solidarity. ADAFP salutes every member organisation that has raised its voice in commemoration of this historic day.

 

This evening, ADAFP will publish and present the first edition of the African Integration Review — a new periodic publication dedicated to assessing the actual state of African unity and integration, and advancing concrete proposals for its deepening.

In this inaugural edition, ADAFP puts forward a bold agenda: the acceleration of African economic and political integration, with specific proposals to Establish one unified African market by 2031; Abolish visa requirements for all African citizens travelling within Africa by 2031; and Strengthen the institutional architecture of the African Union to make integration irreversible.

ADAFP firmly believes that free movement of people is both a fundamental right and an economic necessity. A borderless Africa is not a distant dream — it is an achievable policy goal, and ADAFP will continue to advocate for it with urgency.

 

ADAFP takes this occasion to salute and congratulate the Republic of Togo for its announcement this month to lift visa requirements for all African nationals. Togo’s decision is a concrete act of African solidarity and a model for other member states of the African Union. ADAFP calls on all African governments to follow Togo’s example and accelerate the implementation of the African Union’s free movement protocols.

Long live African Unity.

Long live Freedom and Democracy in Africa.

 

Issued by

The African Democratic Alliance for Freedom and Progress (ADAFP)

25 May 2026