The African Union Commission (AUC) has joined the global community in commemorating the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, highlighting the significant role of indigenous knowledge in preserving culture, protecting the environment, and advancing sustainable development.
For centuries, indigenous knowledge has enabled communities across Africa to adapt and thrive in the face of environmental, social, and economic challenges.
While modern science has become the dominant evidence-based tool globally, the AU has made a move that highlights that the traditional knowledge systems remain an irreplaceable pillar of Africa’s resilience and identity.
This year, the African Union reaffirmed its commitment to placing these communities at the heart of its sustainable future. It took the moment to reaffirm support for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2007), describing it as a complementary global framework to existing African instruments.
During the 47th Ordinary Session of its Executive Council, the AU urged member states to strengthen measures that protect the rights of indigenous peoples.
“The day is not only a reminder but also a vital opportunity to preserve cultural diversity, safeguard the environment, and promote sustainable development in line with Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want,” said AU Commission Chairperson H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf in his address.
The AU’s commitment, enshrined in the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (1981) and guided by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights’ Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities, focuses on ensuring that indigenous voices are heard, their rights upheld, and their contributions valued.
H.E. Mahmoud called on governments, partners, and stakeholders to work collaboratively through inclusive policymaking, equitable resource-sharing, and respect for traditional knowledge systems.
“The only way forward to the Africa we want is through ensuring that indigenous voices are heard, their rights upheld, and their contributions fully valued in building a more inclusive, just, and sustainable Africa for all,” he said.
The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, observed annually on 9 August, serves as a platform to recognize the heritage, knowledge systems, and resilience of indigenous communities worldwide.
