In saying farewell to the head of Africa’s premier institution, it is appropriate to pay our respects in languages drawn from across the continent.

I want to thank all those who made it possible for us to honour him, this African statesman whose service to Africa spans almost the entire period of independence. This event is organized by African Civil Society Organizations, many of which have sent messages and tributes that will be presented to Dr. Salim. Never before in the history of  OAU have civil society organizations felt it relevant to hold an event to say farewell to an outgoing Secretary- General. The fact that we are doing so, not only indicates our respect and affection for Dr. Salim as an individual, but also the fact that under his stewardship OAU has become relevant to African civil society, and engaged with the issues that concern us.

Dr. Salim, you will be missed.

Dr.  Salim’s political and diplomatic career spans the modern history of Africa, starting from the 1964 Cairo Summit which he attended as a young member of Nyerere’s delegation—as a member of the newly-united country of Tanzania.

A citizen of the one successful case of the political unification of two formerly separate countries, he is an embodiment of Pan-Africanism. The early years of Dr. Salim’s career covered a period in modern Africa or hope, when the sky was the limit for Africans. As the late Kwame Nkrumah said, “While others crawl, we run.” At that time, we Africans knew we had a lot of catching up to do. And we began in style: our ambitions were limitless. We not only sought  peace and development, but liberation of ourselves as individuals, as Africans.

We tried to build a whole new philosophy of what it meant to be a person in society, seeking to make real our values of freedom, comradeship and  community.

Dr. Salim was fortunate enough to see this first generation of African independent Heads of State and to partake in their camaradarie and optimism.

He internalized that spirit: it is a fund of personal and spiritual capital that he has drawn upon during the long years of hardship and adversity that followed.

When the period of decline started and all of the problems associated with the current poverty and crisis began to bedevil our Continent, Dr. Salim stayed as a centre of gravity, representing all that was best in our greatest collective achievement, our independent statehood. When hope was replaced by despair, and dreams of prosperity were overtaken by the harsh imperative of survival, Dr. Salim never succumbed to Afro-pessimism.

If Julius Nyerere, Kwame Nkrumah, Sekou Toure, and Samora Machel were here today they would be proud of this son of Africa who has kept alive their spirit of realistic optimism.

When Dr. Salim became Secretary-General of OAU, he inherited an institution that reflected both Africa’s weakness and Africa’s strength.

Weakness, because for many years, as we all knew, OAU was little more than a trade union of Heads of states. Strength, because this institution continued to survive while even governments crumbled. In an important way OAU symbolized Africa’s quest for continuity; it also symbolized Africans desire to be together. During the years when Dr. Salim was at the helm, in spite of all the problems faced by a multilateral institution because of the demands of member States, Dr. Salim continued to make it as relevant as possible. Of particular concern to us here, Dr. Salim made OAU responsive to civil society and to a wide range of concerns. OAU is now deeply engaged in a range of important social and economic issues, such as the rights of children and the struggle to defeat HIV/AIDS.

For some critics, Dr. Salim was going too slow, for others he was going to fast. For someone at the head of an intergovernmental organization, criticism from both sides is a mark of praise. All the time he was the consummate politician, practising the art of the possible. Dr. Salim has seen many political  and diplomatic arenas, and is one of those in Africa who really knows what works and what doesn’t work. He made OAU adjust to the changing realities of Africa. He has been always an authentic voice for Africa in the international arena. He has always kept alive the positive, always communicated the possibilities.

For those of us who have observed Dr. Salim all these years it is very clear  that he embodies the progressive tradition in Africa: seeking justice and progress for all, in the words of Nkrumah, “Forward ever, backward never!”

For those of us who are fortunate to know Dr. Salim personally, it is also remarkable that he is a sensitive and compassionate person. He is very kind hearted, respectful and always caring.

His wife Amna deserves special mention. She is a very gracious and dignified: qualities really appreciated by Ethiopians and by the international diplomatic corps in this city. Her presence in Addis Ababa brought style to the diplomatic scene. She was well liked, much loved.

In many small acts, Dr. Salim expressed his sensitivity to his symbolic position  as Africa’s representative. For example he always insisted on travelling on Ethiopian Airlines. They will miss him. As an Ethiopian I would also like to underline the care and respect he showed towards us as his hosts. He and Amna adopted a young Ethiopian girl as a daughter (Martha), as a real practical expression of their compassion. At a political level, he witnessed many changes over the last 12 years.

Dr. Salim, your presence here was always unobtrusive. You did not impose yourself. But your achievements are so much the greater for being achieved in a humble and respectful manner. Perhaps we will not fully appreciate the value of your presence until you are gone.

As Civil  Society Organizations, if we had the power to do so we would have granted you Honorary Citizenship of Addis Ababa, and as a Pan-African network of civil society, perhaps we would have awarded you the first Pan-African Continental Passport.

Dr. Salim, with all your cumulative experience we believe that your best gift to the African continent and African civil society is to continue to advocate on our behalf, and to continue to find ways in which you can lend your experience to enriching the cause of justice and peace in this continent.

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