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Chairperson,
President Azali Assoumani,
Your Excellencies,
Secretary-General of the OAU
People of the Comoros,
Ladies and Gentlemen.

I am very happy to be part of the many people here today, who have come to witness the inauguration of President Azali Assoumani as an elected leader of the Union of the Comoros. We join the people of these islands that constitute the Comoros, as they rejoice at the return of democracy.

All of us should celebrate this important milestone in the process of ensuring that the people of the Union of the Comoros are active participants in the affairs of their country. This ceremony represents progress not only for the people of these various Islands that belong to one country, but also for all the people of the African continent.

It is also important that we meet a day after we celebrated Africa Day. This is a day on which we do not just celebrate the rich legacy of an ancient past, but reflect on the many challenges that are facing us today and the manner in which we should respond to them.

While the success we are celebrating belongs mainly to the people of this Union, I am sure we will all agree that the people of our continent should also share in the sweet joy of this advancement.

The return of democracy in this country should serve as an inspiration and encouragement to all of us on the continent, especially those of our countries that have not yet embarked on a democratic route.

Africans throughout the length and breadth of our continent are celebrating with you because some of the difficulties you have overcome still afflict some of our countries.

Indeed, when the Islands of Moheli and Anjouan threatened to secede in September 1997, the horrific images of the secession of the Katanga province in the Democratic Republic of Congo four decades ago came flashing back into the memories of many of our people throughout the continent.

Those attempts, coupled with many other negative developments, led to terrible consequences that plunged that huge country into a long season of underdevelopment and poverty, conditions from which the Congolese people must still escape.

The separatist problems in this Union also brought back the memories of the indecencies of war and conflict that were occasioned by the secession of Biafra from the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Because we have all seen the dreadful consequences of conflicts between people of the same countries, between brothers and sisters, and amongst relatives, the leadership of our continent, through our premier organisation, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), spared no effort in seeking to prevent the possibility of war and conflict amongst the Comorians.

Through various efforts, the OAU worked very hard to bring about an inclusive inter-Comorian dialogue, specifically addressing the concerns of those who thought that the best way of resolving their problems was to secede.

As Africans, we acted as firmly as we could precisely because we did not want to see a situation where innocent people of this Union die through conflict, and this beautiful country reduced to a wasteland.

We are indeed happy that after many negotiations and engagements, the people of the Union of Comoros have decided to work together, as patriots, to solve their problems.

Yet, as we celebrate the return to democracy, we should always be alive to the problems and concerns that motivated those who wanted to secede.

It is said that one of the problems was the disproportionate distribution of resources between the different islands that constitute the Union.

As in many of our countries, we need to pay particular attention to this matter. We know from our own experience as Africans, that any discriminatory flow of resources is a recipe for conflict.

It is our duty and responsibility to ensure that this phenomenon is eradicated from all our countries, so that we have a real possibility of ensuring that all the people enjoy our countries' resources, however limited they may be.

We are aware that in situations where there is poverty and scarcity of resources, there may be a tendency to fight for positions, so as to use power to access these resources and further to entrench ourselves in those positions of power. I am certain that it is also true that the masses of our people need a leadership that is concerned with the development of all the people and the entire country, rather than a small elite in our societies.

I am sure we are all aware that the continent has embarked on a comprehensive programme of development of our countries and continent. Through the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), we will work hard to ensure that our countries develop to such an extent that the fight over resources does not lead to conflict and instability.

I am confident that the Comoros will benefit from this historic initiative. At the same time, it is important for the leadership of the Union to look at the practical ways of being engaged in the process of the New Partnership for Africa's Development, so that we set firm basis for development in this country.

Surely, individual countries will also engage the Union of the Comoros and assist in different ways so that we both strengthen the democratic settlement and raise the standard of living of the people.

Already, a number of countries as well as the OAU have made modest contributions so that this country can move forward.

One of the messages that this occasion should send out is the fact that the leadership of the African continent is serious about the matter of bringing to an end the unacceptable situation of people assuming power by force of arms.

We have made it clear that we will not allow this cancer to eat at our democracy, and we will always unite totally to eradicate it from the politics of our countries and continent.

Mr President,

I am sure that you are conscious of the fact that, having made this crucial advance of addressing your constitutional challenges and holding successful elections, we are faced with an equally important challenge of putting in place the necessary structures that will underpin this young democracy and ensure good and efficient governance.

I would like to assure you that, having worked with the people of the Union of the Comoros when they were grappling with the challenge of restoring democracy, we will continue to partner this nation and ensure that we build an enduring democracy. We will help to create strong, effective and efficient structures that will put the ordinary people of this country first and serve them with commitment.

In July this year, we will be transforming our continental body, the OAU into the African Union (AU). You know from your own experience, the work of this important organisation, the OAU, which has made it possible for all of us to meet here today to celebrate democracy.

We will create the African Union with the appropriate mandate to lead the programme of the reconstruction and development of our continent. In this regard, for us to succeed in this important work of reconstruction and development, the masses of our people will have to play a central role.

The AU will take the work of the OAU forward and ensure that we move faster with regard to the integration of our countries and the reinforcement of African unity so that, acting together, we are able to increase the pace of changing the lives of our people for the better.

I therefore hope that when we launch the African Union in South Africa in July this year, we will have the pleasure of your company.

Our presence here makes a clear and loud statement that as Africans, we will strive at all times, for democracy. We will build institutions and structures that will ensure good governance.

Our presence here today, makes an unequivocal declaration that we stand for peace and stability and are committed to the peaceful resolution to all our problems. By standing on the soil of the Union of the Comoros on this important day, we are re-affirming our determination to work tirelessly for the unity and territorial integrity of our countries.

Above all, through our presence here today we reiterate that we will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder, walk side by side and through the sweat of our brow bring about development and prosperity.

Once more, we would like to say that your achievement is our achievement. Your progress is the progress of each and every African. Congratulations, Mr President. Congratulations, brothers and sisters of the Comoros. All of us wish you success in all your future endeavours.

I thank you.

Contact: David Hlabane at (012) 300-5438/082 561 9428

Issued by: The Presidency, 26 May 2002