Africa Day celebrated

AFRICA Day, which marks the formation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union (AU) 41 years ago, was celebrated across the continent yesterday, with South Africa holding a celebration at the presidential guesthouse in Pretoria. In a statement on the significance of the day, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) said that Africa is making steady progress in the pursuit of a united, peaceful and prosperous continent. It highlighted the setting up of the African Parliament; the Peace and Security Council; the Economic, Social and Cultural Council, and the African Court on Human and People's Rights as moves towards greater freedom and human rights on the continent. However, the statement also warned that many human rights challenges remain, particularly in the Darfu region in Sudan and northern Uganda, which the SAHRC highlighted. (Lucy Siebert)