The Africa Union Commission today unveils the statue of Ethiopia’s Emperor Haile Selassie I build in the AU headquarters compound in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The statue is unveiled this morning by Chairperson of African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Ghana’s President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame who is also out going chairperson of African Union (AU).
The statue is built in recognition of the role Emperor Haile Selassie I played for the realization of of the Organization of African Union (OAU) in 1963.
Emperor Haile Selassie I served as King of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974.
The Emperor was overthrown by the military regime known as Derg, led by Mengistu Haile Mariam, who is currently hiding in Zimbabwe after overthrown by arms struggle in May 1991.
The idea to put statue of Emperor Haile Selassie I was promoted by Ghana’s President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo.
It is recalled that the statue of Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana’s former president was also built within the African Union compound a few years ago for his contribution for the foundation of OAU. Through time, the OAU has transformed into the African Union (AU).