President Higgins gives address on Africa Day

Posted on: 25 May 2018

The President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins gave a keynote address on ‘Africa-Ireland Relations: Current and Future’ at a special event in celebration of Africa Day. Trinity College Dublin through the Trinity International Development Initiative (TIDI) partnered with African Ambassadors in Ireland to host the celebration of the official day of the African Union, and the continent’s unity and diversity.  The Provost, Dr Patrick Prendergast also spoke at the event, along with the South African Ambassador, Ahlangene Cyprian Sigcau who is the current Dean of the African Heads of Mission in Ireland.

In his speech, President Higgins reflected on the historical parallels between Ireland and other nations that struggled with a history of colonialism and the need to establish a newly independent State, and on how the bonds of solidarity resulted in a strong Irish presence in the missionary orders, the anti-apartheid movement and international development aid.

The President said: “Ireland means to be a part of this African century. We have shared a long and sometimes difficult history; as subjects of empires, searching, sometimes together, for freedom and independence; as free nations, seeking to shape that independence towards a sustainable future. It is through solidarity with the African struggle for liberation that Ireland found its place amongst the nations – it is through that solidarity that Ireland found a purpose for our national freedom. It is now time to deepen and extend our co-operation to meet the challenges of this century. The Irish Government has committed to increasing our overseas development assistance budget to 0.7% of Gross National Income by 2030. It is also committed to increasing trade and investment with African nations. I welcome these commitments.”

The President also stated that “more than any other place on Earth, the continent of Africa is now, and will be, the crucible for the global challenges that we confront in this century,” and that Africa, “the continent of the young” has the potential to be “the continent of promise and opportunity in our twenty-first century.”

He concluded by saying: “In this new century, let us go forward and pursue together a  diplomacy of the common good, practiced with courtesy, respect and deliberation, and eschew any simply transactional diplomacy based on perceived short-term national advantage. Yes, let us make it together an African century.”

About Trinity International Development Initiative

Established in 2007, Trinity International Development Initiative (TIDI) forms an overarching structure to coordinating and promoting International Development Research and Education. With 70+ research projects and 40+ courses with development content at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, Trinity has a strong and long standing tradition of excellence in the fields of development research and education. TIDI plays an active role in supporting the growth and enhancement of Irish-African relations through collaborative development research and education initiatives which are focused on practical solutions for real-world challenges.