Africans Rising for Unity, Justice, Peace, and Dignity has declared the week of May 22nd to May 28th, 2023, as African Liberation Week, a momentous Pan-African mobilization event marking the 60th anniversary of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now known as the African Union (AU). With the launch of the #BorderlessAfrica campaign during the 2022 All-African Movement Assembly in Arusha, Tanzania, this year’s celebration holds even greater significance. The theme for African Liberation Week 2023 is “Borderless Africa,” emphasizing the call for the ratification and implementation of the AU protocol on the free movement of people and goods within Africa.
Africans Rising, through the annual African Liberation Week (ALW), brings together thousands of people across Africa and the Diaspora to honor and celebrate Pan-African cooperation and solidarity. The African Liberation Week draws inspiration from African Liberation Day, which is observed every year on May 25th, commemorating the establishment of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) on the same date in 1963. This year marks a significant milestone as it precisely signifies 60 years since the formation of the OAU.
During this year’s event, Hardi Yakubu, Africans Rising Movement Coordinator, highlights the importance of unity and Pan-African solidarity in the face of geopolitical challenges. The sub-themes for African Liberation Week 2023 include the fight against inequality and addressing multiple crises related to food, energy, climate, and more. This united front seeks to foster prosperity and resilience within the African continent and demands a departure from the centuries-old roles of being “drawers of water and hewers of wood.”
Last year’s African Liberation Week, held under the theme “Africa for Africans,” witnessed over 500 actions spanning 46 countries in Africa and the Diaspora. This year, the mobilization anticipates over 400 co-organized and self-organized activities and events across African towns, communities, and the Diaspora, all aligned with the theme and sub-themes. Africans Rising invites individuals and organizations to organize events within their communities or provide financial support for specific movements and organizations hosting their own events during African Liberation Week in any African country.
Africans Rising, a global Pan-African movement for Unity, Justice, Peace, and Dignity, encourages everyone to become a part of the movement. By reading the founding charter, The Kilimanjaro Declaration, and registering as a member, individuals and organizations can contribute to the collective efforts of progressive African civil society leaders and groups engaged in various civic struggles. Launched in 2017, Africans Rising serves as a platform for convergence, collaboration, knowledge sharing, and solidarity among people and across issues, empowering the African continent.
Africans Rising’s African Liberation Week stands as a powerful symbol of Pan-African unity and solidarity. As the 60th anniversary of the OAU is commemorated under the theme of “Borderless Africa,” the movement calls for the ratification and implementation of the AU protocol on free movement. By mobilizing people across Africa and the Diaspora, African Liberation Week aims to address inequality and multiple crises, while advocating for unity and prosperity. Join Africans Rising by participating in local events, providing support, and becoming a member to contribute to the pursuit of unity, justice, peace, and dignity on the African continent.
