Egypt looks forward to AU presidency next year: FM

CAIRO- 24 May 2018: Egypt celebrates on Friday Africa Day, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid.

The occasion marks the anniversary of founding Organization of African Unity (OAU) established in May 25, 1963, he noted.

The OAU turned in May 26, 2001 into the African Union (AU), the spokesman asserted, adding that Africa Day embodies meanings of strife of the Africans for achieving freedom, unity and development.

In statements on Thursday, Abu Zeid underlined that Egypt realized the importance of backing the Africans in their strife for freedom, noting that the Africans will not forget the sacrifices of great leaders such as late Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser.

Africa continued this march with developing African joint action at the level of various AU institutions which seek achieving unity among the sons of the continent in political, economic and cultural fields, the spokesman affirmed.

Celebrating Africa Day this year comes after the great efforts exerted by Egypt to restore its pioneering role in Africa following the revolutions of the January 25 and June 30 via recovering its membership in the AU, he underscored.

This was reflected on Egypt's winning the presidency of the AU for 2019, Abu Zeid said