The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) has called on member states, partners, and all stakeholders to ensure that the voices of indigenous communities are heard and their rights upheld. 

Mahmoud Ali Youssouf made the call as the continental body joins the global community in commemorating the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on August 9. 

"This day is an opportunity to celebrate the rich heritage, knowledge systems, and resilience of indigenous communities across Africa and the world," he said, adding, "Their vital role in preserving cultural diversity, safeguarding the environment, and advancing sustainable development in line with Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want."

Youssouf stated that through inclusive policy-making and equitable resource-sharing, countries can ensure that the contributions of indigenous peoples are fully valued in building a more inclusive, just, and sustainable Africa for all.

He reaffirmed the African Union’s commitment to promote and protect the rights of indigenous peoples through various instruments, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights adopted in 1981.

The Charter and its implementation are further guided by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights’ Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities.

"The African Union Executive Council, during its 47th Ordinary Session, urged Member States to strengthen measures to protect the rights of indigenous peoples and reaffirms its support for the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2007) as a global normative framework complementing AU instruments," said Youssouf.