Update: We are grateful to the Pan-Africanist Republic of Kenya and it’s listening, Pan-Africanist President, William Samoe Ruto for advocating for Haiti to be officially recognized by the AU as part of its 6th Region (all current AU Member States come from the AU’s five other regions). We are happy that following our advocacy in 2024, during the 2025 summit of the African Union Kenya’s State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohammed made this statement:
President William Ruto proposes the adoption of a Draft Declaration on AU Solidarity with Haiti at the AU Assembly, to affirm its status as part of Africa’s Sixth Region…” Indeed, we watched President Ruto advocate for Haiti in his speech at the Summit, and Kenya’s draft resolution proposing this recognition was made available to us.
In that Draft Declaration, Kenya noted that;
“CONTEXT:
1.The African Union Assembly vide its decision 884 of February, 2024 affirmed the deep-rooted Pan African origins of the African Union and those of its precursor, the Organisation of African Unity, encompassing historical, cultural and blood ties that bind the continent of Africa and the African Diaspora.
2. Further More, the African Union Assembly adopted vide its decision 884 of February, 2024 the theme of the year for 2025 as “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations’’. In line with this theme the AUC has committed itself to pursue justice and reparation for acts perpetuated by colonial masters on African States and invariably on African Diaspora and People of African descent.
3. The Member States of the African Union in adopting the Constitutive Act, affirmed, inter alia, their inspiration by the noble ideals which guided the founding fathers of our Continental Organization and generations of Pan-Africanists in their determination to promote unity, solidarity, cohesion and cooperation among the peoples of Africa and African States.
4. The Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union at its 32nd Ordinary Session in February, 2019 adopted a Declaration on the AU Recognition of the400th Anniversary of the Transatlantic Slave Trade Assembly/AU/Decl.2(XXXII). In the Declaration, the Assembly, inter alia:
i. Reaffirmed our commitment to the Unity of African People, to building an integrated Africa, to forging cultural, political, social and economic linkages that further the Pan Africanist dream among all peoples of African descent;
ii. Urged all Member States of the Union to consider immigration, economic,cultural and social policies that allow the Africans descended from the victims and survivors of the transatlantic Slave Trade to reconnect and reengage with their brethren in the African Continent;
5. Agenda 2063 has been adopted by Member Sates of the African Union as Africa’sblueprint and master plan for transforming Africa into the global powerhouse of the future.Aspiration number two (2) of Agenda 2063 speaks to ‘‘An integrated continent, politicallyunited, based on the ideals of Pan-Africanism and the vision of Africa’s Renaissance’’.Africa commits to have dynamic and mutually beneficial links with her Diaspora.
This advocacy by Kenya is significant because it’s the first time an African Union Member State is specifically advocating for the closer integration of Haiti into the African Union at an AU Assembly since the unfortunate freezing of Haiti’s bid in 2016. And it serves as a beacon of hope to other countries of the African Diaspora/6th Region of the African Continent who might wish to join the AU in future.
And so, we express the hope that this movement by Kenya becomes the beginning of a wellspring of overwhelming support that would lead to membership of willing States of the African Diaspora/AU Sixth Region on a basis of equality with AU Member States from the other 5 Regions.
The Prince and Princess Charles Offokaja Foundation International on the 5th of September, 2024, the Pan Africanist think-and-do tank, wrote to Kenya’s President, William Samoe Ruto, urging that Kenya advocates support for Haiti’s (currently stalled) 2016 bid to join the African Union (AU) at the African Union Assembly.
“We are confident of your interest in helping out Haiti, the first free Black Republic, and a Brother country to your country in its time of great need. And we implore you not to hesitate from this noble action that would make Mother Africa proud, even if at first, you stand alone.
The letter reads, “Dear President William Samoei Ruto CGH,
“We hope this letter finds you in good health and spirits. I am writing to you on behalf of the Prince and Princess Charles Offokaja Foundation, an organization committed to the Membership of willing States of the African Diaspora in the African Union, AU.
“We are deeply concerned about the refusal of the African Union (AU) Commission to transmit Haiti’s 2016 application to join the AU. We are disturbed about the socioeconomic and sociocultural impact it is having on Haitians, and citizens of AU Member States.
“This refusal has prevented the potential expansion of the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA to include willing States in the African Diaspora.
“Furthermore, it has sent a wrong message to Afro Americans of the African Diaspora (who are descended from victims of the Transatlantic Slave Trade). A message that they are not deemed worthy of being allowed to fully participate in the building of the African Union. This refusal has limited African unity. And as you know, Excellency, unity has many benefits for the united.
“Your Excellency, in 2016, the Republic of Haiti applied for membership of the African Union. This is in line with Article 29 of the Constitutive Act of the African Union, which states that ‘Any African State may, at any time after the entry into force of this Act, notify the Chairman of the Commission of its intention to accede to this Act and to be admitted as a member of the Union.’
“The Article further provides that, ‘The Chairman of the Commission shall, upon receipt of such notification, transmit copies thereof to all Member States.’
“It concludes by stating that ‘Admission shall be decided by a simple majority of the Member States. The decision of each Member State shall be transmitted to the Chairman of the Commission who shall, upon receipt of the required number of votes, communicate the decision to the State concerned.’
“In this case, all Haiti got from the AU Commission was a message that suggests it’s not African, rather than the results of a vote of Member States.
“Haiti is an African State by demography, as 95% of it’s population is African. It is also legally a part of the African Continent in line with Article 3(q) of the Protocol On Amendments To The Constitutive Act Of The African Union.
“That Article provides that the objectives of the African Union shall be to: ‘Invite and encourage the Full participation of the African Diaspora as an important part of our Continent, in the building of the African Union.’
“Excellency, Article 3 (q) of the Protocol is similar to Article 1 of the Charter of the Arab League which states that, “Any independent Arab state has the right to become a member of the League. If it desires to do so, it shall submit a request which will be deposited with the Permanent Secretariat General and submitted to the Council at the first meeting held after submission of the request.”
“As provided by Article 1, the esteemed Arab League is composed not only of Arab States of the Arabian Peninsula, but also of Arab States of North Africa such as Libya, Morocco, and other esteemed States. That has enhanced Arab unity.
That’s the same way Article 29 and Article 3 (q) of the Protocol provides for African States of the African Diaspora to become Member States of the African Union.
“Excellency, Article 9(c) of the Constitutive Act of the African Union expressly vests the consideration of requests for Membership of the Union on the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, not on the Commission.
In this case, the AU Commission refused to transmit Haiti’s notification to Member States contrary to Article 29 of the AU Constitutive Act.
“In light of the above, we urge Kenya to intervene in line with Article 9(e) of the Constitutive Act of the African Union, which provides that the Assembly of the Union shall have the power to “monitor the implementation of policies and decisions of the Union as well as ensure compliance by all Member States”.
“We believe that Kenya, which believes in helping its Brother African States, being a Member State of the Assembly of State Parties has a significant role to play in addressing this issue. Mr. President, you are a Pan Africanist.
“We note your keen interest in the building of the African Union, as evident in your endorsement of the candidacy of Raila Odinga a renowned statesman, for the Chairmanship of the AU Commission. This is among other notable policies of yours.
“We are confident of your interest in helping out Haiti, the first free Black Republic, and a Brother country to your country in its time of great need. And we implore you not to hesitate from this noble action that would make Mother Africa proud, even if at first, you stand alone.
“We respectfully urge Kenya to help by bringing up the issue of Haiti’s (currently stalled) membership application for due consideration by the State Parties of the AU, relying on: Article 9(e) of the Constitutive Act of the African Union, and crucially citing Article 3(q) of the Protocol on Amendments To The Constitutive Act of the African Union; Articles 9(c), and 29 of the Constitutive Act of the African Union, and Articles 22(1) and 22(2) of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.
“We urge you, Excellency, to implore the outgoing Chairman of the AU Commission to transmit Haiti’s notification.
“Alternatively, we urge Your Excellency to impress upon the candidates for the AU Commission Chairmanship of the need for urgent transmission of Haiti’s notification in the eventuality that the outgoing Chairman doesn’t do so.
“It is our conviction that such measures are not only in the best interest of the Haitian African People but also align with the Pan-Africanist values and commitments of Kenya.
“We appreciate your attention to this important matter and look forward to your response.
“Thank you Mr. President, for your Pan-Africanist consideration.
Sincerely,
Prince Charles Offokaja,
Director General,
Prince and Princess Charles Offokaja Foundation
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