News story

Foreign Secretary congratulates African Union on its 50th anniversary

African Union has made huge strides towards building a safe, integrated and prosperous Africa, with improved governance and less poverty.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Foreign Secretary, William Hague, said:

I congratulate the member states of the African Union on the occasion of the organisation’s 50th anniversary. The African Union and its predecessor, the Organisation of African Unity, represent the significant progress made in Africa over the last 50 years and the enormous possibilities and opportunities of the next 50 years. Huge strides have been made towards building a safe, integrated and prosperous Africa, with improved governance, less poverty and a strong voice on international issues.

The African Union has been an essential part of the international community’s response to some of the most difficult and complex crises of recent years in Somalia, Mali, Sudan and South Sudan, and it has become increasingly engaged in promoting trade and governance across the continent. Britain and Africa share a future as a well as a history and I am pleased that we are able to continue to work so closely with the African Union on many issues of vital importance in today’s world. May the good work of the African Union continue for many years to come.

Follow the Foreign Office on twitter @foreignoffice

Follow the Foreign Office on facebook and Google+

Subscribe to the announcements feed or email alerts to get our latest news and announcements

Published 25 May 2013