Ethiopia proposes inclusion of Amharic as official African Union language

The 44th ordinary session of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU) commenced in Addis Ababa, with Ethiopian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Taye Atske Selassie, proposing the inclusion of Amharic as the official language of the AU.

Foreign affairs ministers from AU member states, diplomatic corps, representatives of various organizations, and other participants are actively engaged in the two-day meeting.

The summit is scheduled to take place on February 17-18, with the 44th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council preceding it from February 14th-15th.

In his address to the council, Minister Taye underscored the importance of empowering indigenous African languages, aligning with the AU’s Agenda 2063.

He emphasized that strengthening these languages would contribute significantly to the progress of the continent.

Requesting the council’s consideration, Taye proposed, “I wish to propose the inclusion of Amharic as one of the official working languages of the Union.”

He recalled that the Organization of African Unity (OAU) charter was initially signed in four languages, including Amharic, highlighting the historical significance of the language. “Adopting Amharic as one of the official languages of the union would honor Africa’s linguistic diversity and contribute to our collective identity as Africans,” he stated.

Minister Taye also stressed the collective responsibility of the union in transforming the educational systems of African countries. Additionally, he highlighted the imperative to enhance the AU’s working methods, calling for the strengthening of the AU Commission and its other organs through the allocation of adequate resources.

This year’s AU summit revolves around the theme, “Educate an African fit for the 21st Century: Building resilient education systems for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality, and relevant learning in Africa.”

Anticipated to be prominent on the agenda of the African Union Summit are issues related to peace, integration, and development, reflecting the collective commitment to addressing the pressing challenges facing the continent.