Salim Ahmed Salim: Son of Africa I
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
About the African Union The African Union spearheads Africa’s development and integration in close collaboration with African Union Member States, the Regional Economic Communities and African citizens. AU Vision is to accelerate progress towards an integrated, prosperous and inclusive Africa, at peace with itself, playing a dynamic role in the continental and global arena, effectively driven by an accountable, efficient and responsive Commission. About ACCORD The African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) is a non-governmental institute headquartered in Durban, South Africa. ACCORD SALIM specialises in conflict management, conflict analysis and conflict prevention, and intervenes in conflicts through mediation, negotiation, training, research and conflict analysis. A HMED SALIM: About the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) is a private diplomacy organisation founded on the principles of humanity, impartiality and independence. Our mission is to help prevent, mitigate, and resolve armed conflict through dialogue and mediation. S ON OF About the ISS Salim Ahmed Salim: The Institute for Security Studies is an African organisation that aims to enhance human security on A Son of Africa the continent. It does independent and authoritative FRICA research, provides expert policy analysis and advice, and Edited by Jakkie Cilliers delivers practical training and technical assistance. About the Mwalimu Nyerere Foundation The Mwalimu Nyerere Foundation was established in June 1996, as a permanent tribute to Mwalimu Julius K Nyerere’s contribution to sustainably improving the quality of human relations. The Foundation is an intellectually and politically independent body and works to promote peace, unity and people centred development throughout the world, and particularly in Africa. ISBN 9780-1-920678-07-4 Contents Acronyms and abbreviations .................................................................................. 1 Foreword: Celebrating Salim Ahmed Salim, a committed pan-African ..................... 3 1 Salim and Africa’s liberation ............................................................................. 7 2 Salim in Tanzania ........................................................................................... 31 Photographs ........................................................................................................ 46 3 Salim’s service at the UN ............................................................................... 51 4 Salim at the Organization of African Unity ...................................................... 67 Conclusion: Salim in his own words ..................................................................... 87 Notes ................................................................................................................... 95 SALIM AHMED SALIM: SON OF AFRICA i Acronyms and abbreviations ACCORD African Centre for the Constructive Resolution ACCORD of Disputes AEC African Economic Community ANC African National Congress ASP Afro-Shirazi Party AU African Union CCM Chama Cha Mapinduzi (Revolutionary Party) DRC Democratic Republic of the Congo Economic Community of West African States’ Military Observer ECOMOG Group FLS Coalition of the Frontline States Frente de Libertação de Moçambique (Mozambican Liberation FRELIMO Front) IMF International Monetary Fund ISS Institute for Security Studies NAM Non-Aligned Movement NGO non-governmental organisation NIEO New International Economic Order OAU Organization of African Unity PAC Pan-Africanist Congress PAFMECA Pan-African Freedom Movement of East and Central Africa SALIM AHMED SALIM: SON OF AFRICA 1 Partido Africano da Independência da Guiné e Cabo Verde PAIGC (African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde) PLO Palestinian Liberation Organization REC regional economic community Resistência Nacional Moçambicana (National Resistence RENAMO Movement of Mozambique) SADC Southern African Development Community SPLM Sudan People’s Liberation Movement SWAPO South West Africa People’s Organization TAZARA Tanzania–Zambia Railway Line UN United Nations UNGA UN General Assembly UNHCR UN High Commission for Refugees WCG Western Contact Group of the UN Security Council ZANU Zimbabwe African National Union ZANU-PF Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front ZAPU Zimbabwe African People’s Union ZNP Zanzibar Nationalist Party ZPPP Zanzibar and Pemba People’s Party 2 SALIM AHMED SALIM: SON OF AFRICA Foreword Celebrating Salim Ahmed Salim, a committed pan-African I am pleased to have the opportunity to write this foreword on the public life of Dr Salim Ahmed Salim, a distinguished son of Africa and a committed pan-African, who served his country, Tanzania, and the entire continent with distinction. His engagement in the struggle for a free, united, integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa remains a source of inspiration for current and future generations. Salim’s life is a story of tenacity, compassion and perseverance, spanning more than seven decades. Born in 1942 in Zanzibar, he became active in politics at a young age as a founder of the All-Zanzibar Student Union, which he served as its first vice- president. At the age of 22, the youngest African ambassador, he represented the United Republic of Tanzania in Egypt, India, China and the UN in New York. Salim also assumed high-level political responsibilities at home before his election to the leadership of the former Organisation of African Unity (OAU) for three consecutive terms. His dedication to Africa continued unabated as he served as chairperson of the African Union Panel of the Wise and in other prominent African institutions, such as the Mwalimu Nyerere Foundation. Under the leadership of the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, Salim, his compatriot the late brigadier-general Hashim Mbita and others of his generation at the UN (and other global and continental platforms) are remembered for their work in the decolonisation movement and the fight against apartheid in southern Africa. Salim took an active part in galvanising support for the leaders of the liberation movements in southern Africa and contributed to the mobilisation of continental and international pressure against the apartheid regime. When Salim assumed the leadership of the OAU as its secretary-general in 1989, he brought to the role a wealth of international experience and a keen recognition for the need to transform Africa from being the playground of the superpowers to SALIM AHMED SALIM: SON OF AFRICA 3 becoming a relevant player that charts its own destiny. His landmark 1990 report on the fundamental changes taking place in the global landscape and their implications for Africa remains a continental road map and one of his greatest legacies to the continent. The declaration adopted by the OAU summit in the same year outlined most of the priorities now contained in the African Peace and Security Architecture and the African Governance Architecture. As OAU secretary-general, Salim worked tirelessly to help our leaders lay the legal foundation that led to the institutional transformation of the OAU into the African Union (AU) and the adoption of its vision for a united, integrated and prosperous Africa – a continent at peace with itself, driven by its own people and representing a dynamic force in global affairs. Salim never accepted the status quo if it perpetuated suffering. For example, during his tenure as OAU secretary-general, he became critical of the way that the OAU principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of member states hampered continental institutions from preventing grave injustices against African people. His view was that when our forebears met in Addis Ababa in May 1963, they had not intended the non-interference clause of the OAU Charter to mean there should be no interference irrespective of the situation. The AU Constitutive Act still maintains the non-interference clause among its core principles. However, it has also enshrined in the Act the commitment to non-indifference, upholding the right of the Union to intervene in solidarity to prevent genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Salim has also been a keen advocate of Africa’s financial independence. Very critical of our organisation’s excessive reliance on partners, he constantly warned that ‘he who pays the piper calls the tune’. It is therefore a fitting tribute to Salim’s tenacity that our leaders have now agreed on the principle of alternative sources of funding, as well as on the need to address the issue of illicit financial flows from the continent. Salim Ahmed Salim has made a great contribution to this continent. As a tribute to his remarkable public life, this book is most welcome. Let us draw inspiration from his devotion to the continent, from his humility and leadership qualities, and his willingness to contribute as much as he could without asking for recognition. From my personal interactions with him and watching him at work, there are many lessons to be learnt from Salim’s public life, in particular his warmth and humility. 4 SALIM AHMED SALIM: SON OF AFRICA Upon my election as Chairperson of the AU Commission in 2012, I consulted with a number of former leaders of the OAU and AU, and also requested to come and see Salim in Tanzania. He refused, instead insisted that he would come and see me in Pretoria, which he did and provided invaluable insight into the work of this critical continental institution. May this publication receive