The African Union commemorated World Refugee Day on the 20th of June, with a high profile event, when the Champion of the African Union’s (AU) theme of the year 2019 , President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasongo of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, visited Tsore Refugee Camp in Asosa, Benishangul - Gumuz region in the Western part of Ethiopia. I

The Champion announced a donation of USD 50,000 to contribute towards the building of a school in the camp for refugee chidren, with the aim of keeping children in school. He highlighted that education is the only way of acquiring the necessary knowledge and skills that will be useful to the refugees’ future.

On the occasion, Mrs. Minata Samate Cessouma,  on behalf of H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission thanked the government and the people of Ethiopia for the open door policy towards refugees, which has continued to welcome displaced persons from Sudan, South Sudan Eritrea, Kenya and Yemen inspite of funding shortfalls. She also extended special gratitude to the local community for hosting refugees in Asosa region despite of their own limited resources. She also thanked the UNHCR and other partners involved in assisting refugees in Ethiopia and other parts of the world, for their continued commitment and support in alleviating the suffering of the refugees and internally displaced persons and encouraged them to continue to do so. 

The African Union also commemorated the 50th Anniversary of the adoption of the 1969 OAU Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa.
The 50th Anniversary event was attended by ….

Find out more about the OAU convention here.