Luanda — Angola celebrated the 35th anniversary on February 12 since joining the African Union (AU), then called Organisation of African Unity (OAU), as its 46th member.

After independence, on November 11, 1975, and with the formation of the first Government of the then People's Republic of Angola, José Eduardo dos Santos was appointed Foreign minister, to lead the country's diplomatic campaign, at a time the national territory was threatened by the invading armies of Zaire and South African.

As a result of an intense diplomatic struggle led by the current head of State, Angola ended up recognised and admitted on February 12, 1976, as the 46th member of the now African Union and, in December the same year, into the United Nations Organisation (UNO).

In that period, besides the important diplomatic victory, about 80 countries (Brazil was the first), 40 of which from African, recognised the then Government of the People's Republic of Angola.

The participation of Angola in the political organisation of the continent, according to ambassador Nelson Cosme, has been praising.

The OAU was created on May 25, 1963, in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), by 32 African independent states. The fact became the major political commitment among the African leaders, aimed at speeding up the end of colonisation in the continent.

For the importance of that moment, the May 25 was instituted by the UNO, in 1972, as the African Liberation Day.

The creation of the OAU translated the Africans' will to become a unique body, capable of responding, in an organised and solidarity way, the various challenges facing the creation of conditions required for the construction of the future for the children of Africa.

On July 12, 2002, in Durban, the last OAU president, South African Thabo Mbeki, solemnly proclaimed the dissolution of the organisation and the emergence of the African Union as a need to meet the challenges facing the continent, in the face of the social, economic and political changes occurring in the world.

However, it was decided to maintain the celebration of the date on May 25, to remember the start, course and the way towards the goal of a "united and strong Africa", capable of realising the dreams of "freedom, equality, justice and dignity" of the founders.

Of the 54 African states, 53 are African Union members: Morocco voluntarily quit in 1985, as a protest against the admission of the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, recognised by the OAU, in 1982.

The African Union has as its goal the unity and solidarity of the continent. It defends the elimination of colonialism, the promotion of sovereignty of the African States, economic integration and political and cultural cooperation in the continent.