Photo : https://www.africanunion-un.org/history
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : https://www.africanunion-un.org/history
IN BRIEF
by Apoorva Sudhakar
Africa Day celebrated with a focus on health and nutrition
On 25 May, the world celebrated Africa Day, a day commemorating the founding of the Organization of African Unity in 1963, which later became the African Union. In 2022, the AU’s theme for the year is “Strengthening Resilience in Nutrition and Food Security on the African Continent.” The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said: “On this year’s Africa Day, the world must join together in solidarity with all Africans to strengthen food security, and put nutrition within reach of every person.” The Africa Day celebrations come alongside an extraordinary summit in Equitorial Guinea between 25 May to 28 May. (“Africa Day harps on nutrition as AU meets in Malabo,” Africanews, 25 May 2022; “UN Secretary-General's message on Africa Day,” United Nations, 25 May 2022)
Niger welcomes military ties with Germany
On 24 May, BBC reported Niger’s president Mohamed Bazoum’s appreciation of the military cooperation with Germany after he met with Germany’s chancellor Olaf Scholz in capital Niamey. Bazoum welcomed Germany’s decision to train Niger’s special forces tackling Islamist militants. The development came Scholz is on a three-day visit to Africa. (“Niger hails military ties with Germany on Scholz tour,” BBC, 24 May 2022)