FAREWELL STATEMENT, BY H.E HIFIKEPUNYE POHAMBA, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA, TO THE AFRICAN UNION ASSEMBLY OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT

30 JANUARY 2015 ADDIS ABABA

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Your Excellency, the Chairperson of the African Union;
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Ten years ago, I addressed this august Assembly for the first time as the second President of the Republic of Namibia. Today, I bid farewell to Your Excellencies.

During the 4th General Elections held in November last year, Dr. Hage Geingob was elected the third president of Namibia. I now take this opportunity to invite you to witness his inauguration on 21 March 2015. I also request Your Excellencies to extend to him the same courtesies and support you accorded to me.

Your Excellencies,

My interaction with the African Union dates back to the days of the founding of the Organization of African Unity. I pay tribute to the visionary founders of the OAU and reiterate our honour to its historic role and commitment to the liberation of our continent from colonial bondage.

I bid farewell to this Assembly with fond memories of friendship and solidarity. I am firmly convinced that AU programmes aimed at accelerating the socio-economic development of our continent will bear the desired results.

It is also my conviction that in order to achieve our continent's development goals and objectives, African leaders must act boldly and in unity, to further consolidate peace and security; defeat terrorism; eradicate poverty; expand infrastructure development; improve food security; and modernize our education and health systems. Read More

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