Dakar, Senegal.
A two-day summit conference took place on 18 and 19 January 2018 in Abdou Diouf International Conference Center. Almost 1200 participants, including heads of state and government, attended the opening event. Considering its unique cultural heritage and the vast resources-both human and material- a new vision for Africa was discussed, under the theme „Interdependence, Mutual Prosperity and Universal Values“. The goal of the summit was to cooperate in the search for solutions to the enormous challenges facing the 54 nations of Africa with their combined population of 1.7 billion. Participating in the conference were parliamentarians, religious leaders, business leaders, traditional tribal elders and other persons from over 60 nations. The main speakers were Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, co-founder of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) and the President of Senegal, his Excellency, Macky Sall.
Dr. Moon welcomed the conference participants and inspired the audience with a vision for a united continent, stressing the significance of the family and a life lived for the common good. „We are living in a new era. It is my hope, that the African continent can be a heavenly continent, centered on God, and can become the most thriving continent in this world. Just as a sun-flower aligns itself towards the sun, so does mankind quite naturally seek for a life of peace. Africa is a wonderful continent and can become a beaming light for this world.“ Dr. Moon explained that she wanted to visit Senegal, „in order to pray and to overcome the historical pain that this country has had to bear. Africa can again stand in the middle-point of God’s providence and begin a new history.“
His Excellency Macky Sall, President of Senegal expressed his thanks to Dr. Moon for her coming and for her words as „a message of hope for Africa, the birth-place of mankind.“. In facing Africa’s problems he quoted Dr. Martin Luther King: ‘The greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.’ The President also spoke about a new Africa that should stand on the foundation of interdependence, mutual prosperity and universal values. He expressed his conviction that Africa is in a position to take care of itself, to think and act for itself. Despite its history, Africa is stable, active and it must see itself as a player that can determine present and future developments. He especially emphasized the huge resources of Africa. Above all, he stressed the quality and youth of its people. Considering all these resources, material as well as human, is Africa in no way poor.
President Macky Sall was presented with the UPF Leadership and Good Governance Award by Dr. Moon, as recognition for his outstanding political leadership. As justification for this presentation, it was mentioned that serving God and the people was the guiding value for President Micky Sall’s political leadership; his utmost concern is to foster cooperation beyond the boundaries of race, religion, country and culture.
More information about the conference:
http://www.upf.org/conferences-2/364-world-summit/7782-first-africa-summit-opens-in-senegal
Contact person:
Haider Peter (UPF Austria)www.weltfriede.at
0650 2588846
info@weltfriede.at
