First Africa Day on the Hill Celebrating the 50th Independence Anniversary for 17 African Nations

20 July 2010
Content from a Premium Partner
Africa Society of the National Summit on Africa (Washington, DC)
press release

On Wednesday, July 21, 2010, The Africa Society of the National Summit on Africa and the Congressional African Staffers Association (CASA) will honor 50 years of independence for 17 African nations at the first Africa Day on Capitol Hill. The program will be held in the Longworth House Office Building, Room 1539 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.  Sponsors of this event include Cassidy and Associates, The Coca-Cola Company, Chevron, The US FED Group and Standard Bank.

Special Guest, His Excellency Abdoulaye Wade, President of the Republic of Senegal, will accept a copy of House Resolution 1405 which celebrates these anniversaries marking the end of colonial rule in 1960, on behalf of Senegal and the other sixteen nations being recognized.  They include Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Cote D'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Mali, Republic of Congo, Niger, Madagascar, Mauritania, Nigeria, Somalia, and Togo.  The resolution also acknowledges the strategic, humanitarian, economic, and cultural importance of the continent of Africa to the United States.

An original sponsor of House Resolution 1405, Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL), stated "I am pleased that for the first time in America's history, with the passage of H.R. 1405, African nations are being recognized for their strategic and economic significance to the U.S. With this celebration of the 50 year anniversary of independence, we honor the sacrifices of the founding fathers of these African countries.  Africa is now "a lion awakened." This day marks a turning point in the history of U.S. – Africa relations, from the end of a paternalistic approach toward Africans nations, to building a strong and equal partnership."

Rep. Donald Payne, (D-NJ), Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA) and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY) are among those Members of Congress who will provide remarks and who are on the Honorary Committee.  Other Honorary Hosts for Africa Day on the Hill are Senators Patrick Leahy, Russ Feingold, Mark Begich, Roland Burris and Representatives James Clyburn, Gregory Meeks, Diane Watson, Steve Cohen and André Carson.

The Africa Society of the National Summit on Africa is a non-profit organization that engages and educates Americans about the nations that comprise the continent of Africa and creates, through partnerships, a better understanding of its peoples, diverse cultures, histories, and economies. For more information visit:www.africasummit.org

The Congressional African Staff Association (CASA) is a bipartisan organization which strives to educate staffers on today's substantive Africa issues, highlighting best practices, success stories, and innovative initiatives on the continent.  

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