The Africa Union Commission on Sunday unveiled the statue of Ethiopia’s Emperor Haile Selassie I build in the AU headquarters compound in Addis Ababa in recognition of his role for the realization of the Organization of African Union (OAU) in 1963.
The unveiling of the commemorative statue of Emperor Haile Selassie I at the AU HQs in Addis Ababa pic.twitter.com/wYzQ8OM2qj
— Emmanuel Igunza (@EmmanuelIgunza) February 10, 2019
The statue was unveiled by Chairperson of African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Ghana’s President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, the outgoing chairperson of African Union (AU).
The unveiling ceremony of the statue was attended by Heads of State and Government attending the 32nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union.
President Uhuru Kenyatta, Kenya said, “The Emperor’s contribution to Africa’s liberation is the reason we are here today as a united Africa, as we seek collaborative ways to prosper our people and continent.”
Emperor Haile Selassie I statue is the second to be erected after that of Ghana’s founding president, Kwame Nkrumah, who championed pan-Africanism.
Emperor Haile Selassie I served as King of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974.
