M

ore than a billion African people all over the world joyfully celebrate Africa Day on May 25 every year. But there will not be any celebrations in Indonesia, the recent host of the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Asian-African Conference.

'€œThere will not be any event to mark Africa Day tomorrow [Monday] in Jakarta. It will be very difficult for African diplomatic missions to host any event just after last month'€™s commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Asian-African Conference in Jakarta and Bandung,'€ Moroccan Ambassador to Indonesia Mohamed Majdi told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

Numerous heads of state from both Africa and Asia attended the Asian-African Summit, which was themed '€œAdvancing South-South Cooperation'€.

It is not clear if celebrations to mark Africa Day or African Liberation Day are postponed or cancelled.

'€œAfrican ambassadors here have not yet made a decision,'€ Ambassador Majdi, who is also the deputy dean of African ambassadors, said.

However, a staff member of an African embassy hinted that the celebrations may be postponed and might be celebrated in September in Jakarta.

Africa Day is celebrated every year to symbolize the establishment of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) on May 25, 1963, by 30 out of 32 African states. The spirit of the Bandung Conference in 1955 and African solidarity led to the liberation of Africa. Now there are 54 independent states in Africa. That is why it is called African Liberation Day.

In July 2002, the OAU transformed into the African Union (AU), which currently has 53 members. Morocco, a North African country and one of the founders of the OAU, is not a member of the AU but African solidarity has not diminished in Morocco.'€œMorocco always gives utmost importance to Africa. Our Foreign Minister Salaheddine Mezouar attended the Asian-African Summit last month in Jakarta. Our diplomacy has always worked in order to place the issue of African development as central to international concerns,'€ Majdi said.

South Africa, the powerhouse of Africa, declared that May is African month, as part of the Africa Day celebration themed: '€œWe are Africa '€” Opening the doors of learning and culture from Cape to Cairo'€.

Indonesia, a close friend and strategic partner of Africa, has been trying to revive old ties through new initiatives like the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership, Asian-African Summit and advancing South-South cooperation.

Last year, Indonesia'€™s bilateral trade with African countries surged to US$11.67 billion, a huge increase from a mere $4.76 billion in 2009.