Description

Africa's history is not the stuff of which fairy
tales are made of. Slavery, colonialism, and
neocolonialism left a bitter legacy in Africa. But
it is also true that Africa was failed by her
leadership. Today, the challenge for Africa s
leadership is to escape from the grips of the past
and create the conditions that will allow her people
a life of dignity. And there has never been a better
opportunity to do so. These are the challenges of
modern days. These are the defining challenges of
political leadership. The battle for political and
economic emancipation could only be won with a mind
resolutely turned towards the future. Thus, a new
contract is needed between the people and the
leadership in Africa.
When African leaders met at Kananaski in June 2002
and at Durban in July of the same year to create the
African Union, this is what they were signing: a
pledge to the people of Africa to promote sound
economic management, democracy, peace, security and
development within the framework of a united Africa.
At the end of the day, this exciting road to unity
and development promises to be not an easy one. More
than anything else, it promises to be a test of
leadership.