Diplomats to Unveil League of African Ambassadors,  Seek  AU Partnership 

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

All is set for the inauguration of the League of African Ambassadors and High Commissioners as a non-governmental platform, with membership open to diplomats of African descent, whether in service or retired.

The group, in a statement pointed out that skilled and experienced human resources were being wasted in Africa as a result of retirement, tenure expiration or organisational restructuring.

In the statement signed Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the Republic of Zambia,  Nwannebuike Ominyi, the group expressed  worry that the continent was being denied the expertise or energy of people who can still contribute to the reshaping of Africa.

More specifically, the body flayed a situation where well-trained and energetic diplomats with vast experiences in diplomacy who ought to continue contributing to Africa’s robust engagement with the world are underutilised either due to factors such as retirement, end of tour of duty or changes in the home governments.

“It is in view of this that the League of African Ambassadors has been birthed to create a sustainable platform for African diplomats, after completing their tenure, to continue deploying their wealth of experience in the service of Africa and the whole of humanity,” it said.

Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the Republic of Zambia, Ominyi, is the convener of the league while the co-conveners include Khadija Iddrisu,  Ghana’s High Commissioner to the Republic of Zambia; Ahmed El Samawi,  Egyptian Ambassador to the Republic of Togo.

Others are: Teferi  Fikre, Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Guinea-Bissau; Steven Katuka, Zambia’s High Commissioner to the Republic of Namibia and  Joao Baptista Domingos, Angola’s Ambassador to Ghana.

The ‘much-awaited’ platform, it said , will afford Africa a credible and louder voice on the global scene while ensuring that the collective position on major and sundry issues that affect the continent is more respected. “The League will also provide a strong backbone to African leaders on the world stage,” the group noted.

In his remarks, the convener, who is also the Dean of Nigeria Ambassadors and High Commissioners, Eze, said the proposed association was a clarion call to members to see that Africa still needs their services to help  countries and Africa at large even when their tour of duty comes to an end.

“The aim is to create a sustainable platform for us at the end of our tenures to continue deploying our wealth of experience in the service of Africa and the whole of humanity.

“It is our candid opinion that if Africa would realise its potential to the maximum, the experiences and understanding of the world which we have all acquired at post should not be allowed to waste for any reason,” the group stated.

The platform, it said, is planning the first virtual convergence of Africa Ambassadors and High Commissioners as an avenue to formally inaugurate the body while also discussing issues on promoting diplomacy on the African continent.

Secretary of  Nigerian Ambassadors and High Commissioners, who doubles as Nigeria High Commissioner to the Republic of Kenya, Yusuf Yunusa, said the group will serve as an avenue to further engage more effectively with the global community.

“We believe this platform will serve as an avenue to further engage more effectively with the global community on matters of collective interest to engender greater respect for our leaders and citizens.

“We also plan to support the African Union and all our sub-regional organisations in Africa to achieve their goals and objectives. We are open to serving as mentors to newly appointed African Ambassadors and High Commissioners as we build a repository of knowledge which they can tap into.

“We will create avenues for regular capacity building for diplomats and raise continental awareness on diverse issues of benefit to Africa and the world,” Yunusa said.

Ambassador of Nigeria to the Republic of Togo and one of the promoters, Debo Adesina, said: “Africa and Africans can only rise on the strength of our ideas as a people. On the mother continent, in the Americas and across the world, the black race is one. And we must scale the artificial guardrails called borders to unite in hearts and minds as Africans,  speak in unison with purpose, proclaim our uniqueness as a people and act like the chosen ones we truly are!”

Adesina also revealed that one of the unique things LAA does is to engage with African statesmen and women with a view to developing ideas on the continent’s future as well as charting the path to her deserved place in the world.

Many credible former presidents and prime ministers, if pointed out, have already been lined up for LAA’s conversations on Africa’s rebirth.

According to the group, they include Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia, Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki of South Africa and Festus Gotenbaye Mogae of Botswana.

Others are Muhammadu  Buhari of Nigeria, Joyce  Banda of Malawi, Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger, and Graca Machel-Mandela, among others.

“In due course, serving presidents or heads of states will be engaged by the league with a view to articulating a very united and potent African position on world affairs,”  Adesina said.