Africa in a changing world and the role of the African union: A commemoration of the leadership of Salim Ahmed Salim
Key information
- Date
- Time
-
5:30 pm
- Venue
- SOAS, University of London
- Room
- Brunei Gallery Lecture Theatre
About this event
This event serves as a tribute to Salim Ahmed Salim's distinguished leadership and a reflection on the evolving role of the African Union (AU) in a rapidly transforming global order.
SOAS Salim Ahmed Salim Lecture Series
This event serves as a tribute to Salim Ahmed Salim's distinguished leadership and a reflection on the evolving role of the African Union (AU) in a rapidly transforming global order. It will feature a panel of distinguished speakers who will explore how the AU can continue to shape Africa’s future in light of the continent's growing challenges, including geopolitical shifts, economic instability, climate crises, and changing multilateral alliances.
The event also marks the occasion for the launch of the Salim Ahmed Salim Online Archive, a digital repository of his diplomatic and Pan-African contributions at SOAS. This archive serves as a crucial resource for researchers, policymakers, and future generations, preserving his rich legacy and offering insights into the historical and contemporary dynamics of African diplomacy.
Focus of the Panel
In considering the legacy of Dr Salim Ahmed Salim, the panel explores the pivotal role of African Union (AU) leadership in navigating the unprecedented global challenges facing the continent today. This is especially a momentous occasion as the upcoming 38th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa in February 2025 which will see African leaders elect the AU Commission's Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, and six Commissioners.
The stakes for these elections are particularly high, coinciding with a time of heightened geopolitical tensions, economic instability, and urgent climate crises. Conflicts across the continent, coupled with the increasing effects of climate change, necessitate a robust and unified response from African leadership. Furthermore, as Africa's role in the shifting global order becomes more pronounced, the need for coherent strategies and collective action—including fair representation in the UN—is paramount.
With global competition intensifying and alliances undergoing transformation, this juncture presents the AU with a unique opportunity to assert its leadership and ensure that Africa’s voice resonates powerfully on the world stage. The panel will delve into these significant issues, exploring the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the AU. In this context, the panel will also reflect on the significance of Salim Ahmed Salim’s leadership, examining how his diplomatic approach and vision can inform current efforts to enhance the AU’s effectiveness.
Speakers
- Dr Mo Ibrahim, Founder and Chair of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation
- Mr Abdul Mohamed, Senior political advisor and Head of Office for the UN Secretary-General for Sudan, and former Senior political advisor to President Thabo Mbeki on the AU High Level Implementation Panel for Sudan and South Sudan
- Professor 'Funmi Olonisakin - Vice President, International, Engagement and Service, King's College London
- Ms Maryam Salim – Salim Ahmed Salim Archives and Country Director in Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan and South Sudan, The World Bank
- Mr. El Ghassim Wane - former Chief Advisor of the African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson
This event is part of a collaborative initiative between the SOAS Centre of African Studies, the SOAS Centre for Pan-African Studies, and the Dr Salim Ahmed Salim Digital Archive. It aims to explore the complexities and dynamics of leadership in Africa, drawing on both historical and contemporary examples to address current issues facing the continent.
About Dr Salim Ahmed Salim
Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim is a distinguished Tanzanian diplomat and politician whose career has been pivotal in shaping African diplomacy on the global stage. He began his career at the age of 22 as Zanzibar’s Ambassador to Egypt, becoming the youngest African ambassador at that time. Soon after, he was appointed the first Ambassador of the United Republic of Tanzania and Zanzibar to Egypt.
Over the years, Dr Salim reserved as Tanzania’s High Commissioner to India (1965-1968) and Ambassador to China (1969), before taking on a decade-long role as Tanzania’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (1970-1980), during which he also represented Tanzania in various countries across the Caribbean.
At the UN, Dr Salim played a pivotal role in the successful admission of the People's Republic of China to the UN in 1971. He also held influential positions, including Chair of the UN Security Council’s Sanctions Committee on Rhodesia (1975) and President of the 34th General Assembly (1979).
Returning to Tanzania in the 1980s, Dr Salim served as Minister of Foreign Affairs (1980-1984) before becoming Prime Minister (1984-1985), followed by a role as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence and National Service.
As Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) from 1989 to 2001, Dr Salim provided vital leadership during a period of significant challenges, marked by conflicts, political instability, and economic difficulties across the African continent. His tenure was pivotal in steering the organization through these turbulent times, where he played a key role in conflict resolution and peace-building efforts. Dr Salim also oversaw the historic transformation of the OAU into the African Union (AU), laying the groundwork for a more integrated and cooperative African continent in the 21st century.
Image credit: Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim Digital Archive
