Salim Ahmed Salim: Son of Africa

110 Pages·2015·0.73 MB·English

About the African Union
The African Union spearheads Africa’s development
and integration in close collaboration with African Union
Member States, the Regional Economic Communities
and African citizens. AU Vision is to accelerate progress
towards an integrated, prosperous and inclusive Africa,
at peace with itself, playing a dynamic role in the
continental and global arena, effectively driven by an
accountable, efficient and responsive Commission.
About ACCORD
The African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of
Disputes (ACCORD) is a non-governmental institute
headquartered in Durban, South Africa. ACCORD S
specialises in conflict management, conflict analysis a
and conflict prevention, and intervenes in conflicts l
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through mediation, negotiation, training, research and m
conflict analysis. a
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About the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue e
d
The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) is a private

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diplomacy organisation founded on the principles of
a
humanity, impartiality and independence. Our mission is to l
help prevent, mitigate, and resolve armed conflict through im
dialogue and mediation.
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Salim Ahmed Salim:
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About the ISS

o
The Institute for Security Studies is an African Son of Africa
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organisation that aims to enhance human security on
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the continent. It does independent and authoritative
f
research, provides expert policy analysis and advice, and r Edited by Jakkie Cilliers
delivers practical training and technical assistance. ic
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About the Mwalimu Nyerere Foundation
The Mwalimu Nyerere Foundation was established in
June 1996, as a permanent tribute to Mwalimu Julius
K Nyerere’s contribution to sustainably improving
the quality of human relations. The Foundation is an
intellectually and politically independent body and works
to promote peace, unity and people centred development
throughout the world, and particularly in Africa.
iSBn 9780-1-920678-07-4

Contents
Acronyms and abbreviations ..................................................................................1
Foreword: Celebrating Salim Ahmed Salim, a committed pan-African .....................3
1 Salim and Africa’s liberation .............................................................................7
2 Salim in Tanzania ...........................................................................................31
Photographs ........................................................................................................46
3 Salim’s service at the UN ...............................................................................51
4 Salim at the Organization of African Unity ......................................................67
Conclusion: Salim in his own words .....................................................................87
Notes ...................................................................................................................95
Salim ahmed Salim: Son of africa i

Acronyms and abbreviations
ACCORD African Centre for the Constructive Resolution
ACCORD
of Disputes
AEC African Economic Community
ANC African National Congress
ASP Afro-Shirazi Party
AU African Union
CCM Chama Cha Mapinduzi (Revolutionary Party)
DRC Democratic Republic of the Congo
Economic Community of West African States’ Military Observer
ECOMOG
Group
FLS Coalition of the Frontline States
Frente de Libertação de Moçambique (Mozambican Liberation
FRELIMO
Front)
IMF International Monetary Fund
ISS Institute for Security Studies
NAM Non-Aligned Movement
NGO non-governmental organisation
NIEO New International Economic Order
OAU Organization of African Unity
PAC Pan-Africanist Congress
PAFMECA Pan-African Freedom Movement of East and Central Africa
Salim ahmed Salim: Son of africa 1
Partido Africano da Independência da Guiné e Cabo Verde
PAIGC
(African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde)
PLO Palestinian Liberation Organization
REC regional economic community
Resistência Nacional Moçambicana (National Resistence
RENAMO
Movement of Mozambique)
SADC Southern African Development Community
SPLM Sudan People’s Liberation Movement
SWAPO South West Africa People’s Organization
TAZARA Tanzania–Zambia Railway Line
UN United Nations
UNGA UN General Assembly
UNHCR UN High Commission for Refugees
WCG Western Contact Group of the UN Security Council
ZANU Zimbabwe African National Union
ZANU-PF Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front
ZAPU Zimbabwe African People’s Union
ZNP Zanzibar Nationalist Party
ZPPP Zanzibar and Pemba People’s Party
2 Salim ahmed Salim: Son of africa
Foreword
Celebrating Salim Ahmed
Salim, a committed pan-African
I am pleased to have the opportunity to write this foreword on the public life of Dr
Salim Ahmed Salim, a distinguished son of Africa and a committed pan-African,
who served his country, Tanzania, and the entire continent with distinction. His
engagement in the struggle for a free, united, integrated, prosperous and peaceful
Africa remains a source of inspiration for current and future generations.
Salim’s life is a story of tenacity, compassion and perseverance, spanning more than
seven decades. Born in 1942 in Zanzibar, he became active in politics at a young
age as a founder of the All-Zanzibar Student Union, which he served as its first vice-
president. At the age of 22, the youngest African ambassador, he represented the
United Republic of Tanzania in Egypt, India, China and the UN in New York. Salim
also assumed high-level political responsibilities at home before his election to the
leadership of the former Organisation of African Unity (OAU) for three consecutive
terms. His dedication to Africa continued unabated as he served as chairperson of
the African Union Panel of the Wise and in other prominent African institutions, such
as the Mwalimu Nyerere Foundation.
Under the leadership of the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, Salim, his compatriot
the late brigadier-general Hashim Mbita and others of his generation at the UN
(and other global and continental platforms) are remembered for their work in the
decolonisation movement and the fight against apartheid in southern Africa. Salim
took an active part in galvanising support for the leaders of the liberation movements
in southern Africa and contributed to the mobilisation of continental and international
pressure against the apartheid regime.
When Salim assumed the leadership of the OAU as its secretary-general in 1989,
he brought to the role a wealth of international experience and a keen recognition
for the need to transform Africa from being the playground of the superpowers to
Salim ahmed Salim: Son of africa 3
becoming a relevant player that charts its own destiny. His landmark 1990 report on
the fundamental changes taking place in the global landscape and their implications
for Africa remains a continental road map and one of his greatest legacies to the
continent. The declaration adopted by the OAU summit in the same year outlined
most of the priorities now contained in the African Peace and Security Architecture
and the African Governance Architecture.
As OAU secretary-general, Salim worked tirelessly to help our leaders lay the legal
foundation that led to the institutional transformation of the OAU into the African
Union (AU) and the adoption of its vision for a united, integrated and prosperous
Africa – a continent at peace with itself, driven by its own people and representing a
dynamic force in global affairs.
Salim never accepted the status quo if it perpetuated suffering. For example, during
his tenure as OAU secretary-general, he became critical of the way that the OAU
principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of member states hampered
continental institutions from preventing grave injustices against African people. His
view was that when our forebears met in Addis Ababa in May 1963, they had not
intended the non-interference clause of the OAU Charter to mean there should be
no interference irrespective of the situation. The AU Constitutive Act still maintains
the non-interference clause among its core principles. However, it has also
enshrined in the Act the commitment to non-indifference, upholding the right of
the Union to intervene in solidarity to prevent genocide, war crimes and crimes
against humanity.
Salim has also been a keen advocate of Africa’s financial independence. Very critical
of our organisation’s excessive reliance on partners, he constantly warned that ‘he
who pays the piper calls the tune’. It is therefore a fitting tribute to Salim’s tenacity
that our leaders have now agreed on the principle of alternative sources of funding,
as well as on the need to address the issue of illicit financial flows from
the continent.
Salim Ahmed Salim has made a great contribution to this continent. As a tribute to
his remarkable public life, this book is most welcome. Let us draw inspiration from
his devotion to the continent, from his humility and leadership qualities, and his
willingness to contribute as much as he could without asking for recognition.
From my personal interactions with him and watching him at work, there are many
lessons to be learnt from Salim’s public life, in particular his warmth and humility.
4 Salim ahmed Salim: Son of africa
Upon my election as Chairperson of the AU Commission in 2012, I consulted with
a number of former leaders of the OAU and AU, and also requested to come and
see Salim in Tanzania. He refused, instead insisted that he would come and see me
in Pretoria, which he did and provided invaluable insight into the work of this critical
continental institution. May this publication receive the widest possible coverage on
the continent and beyond.
Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma
Chairperson of the African Union Commission
Addis Ababa, May 2015
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