The African Union African Diaspora Sixth Region High Council (AUADS High Council), formed last May in the aftermath of the Roots-Synergy Roundtable that had been competed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia over the weekend of Africa Day/African Liberation Day, recently competed its second international meeting, the Roots-Synergy Roundtable in Maputo, Mozambique, from July 10-13, 2023.

The meeting was scheduled to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the July 11, 2003 drafting of the African Union’s Article 3(q) of its Constitutive Act, which was the key statute launching the AU’s Diaspora Initiative and included the call for the African Diaspora — those whose ancestors had been taken away in slavery centuries ago as well as those who had voluntarily left the Mother Continent to live in the West — to return home to Africa and participate in the AU’s governance and development on behalf of the global African world.

The meeting was organized by a coalition of global African activists, including Dr. Barryl Biekman of the African Union African Diaspora Sixth Region Facilitators Working Group Europe (AUADSFWG), Dr. Tumenta Kennedy, formerly of AUADSFWG in the United Kingdom but now living in Africa, Mama Angela Sayles of the Global African Sheroes Union and Mama Abena Grace James of the Sixth Region Diaspora Caucus (SRDC), currently living in Tanzania.  Other key participants and presenters included Professor David Horne, Director of SRDC based in California, and Bro. Siphiwe Baleka of the Balanta B’urassa History and Genealogical Society in America (BBHAGSIA) and Coordinator of the Lineage Restoration Council of Guinea Bissau (LRC-GB), whom is now living in Guinea-Bissau after tracing his lineage there.

In recognition and celebration of the achievement of the Maputo Roundtable, Dr. Biekman sent this open letter to supporters and participants:

Dear Families,

This is to let you know how grateful we are for the results of our Pan African RootsSynergy Maputo Roundtable.  We have succeeded in realizing the long-cherished wish and mission in Maputo Mozambique.  We have been warmly welcomed and have built up good contacts/partnerships.  The door is now open for further cooperation on the implementation of the African Union African Article 3Q mission guided by the AUADS High Council.  The work had already begun.  From now on we have entered a different phase.  We continue to hope, believe and trust in your support.  Exactly what the ancestors wanted: An integrated Africa and its Diaspora.  We have shown that we have understood the wishes and expectations.  20 years of striving is a reality July 11: the Article 3Q Diaspora Day is a fact.  Let the bells ring.  And… The champagne bottle can now be opened.

Ubuntu United Connected Collective

On behalf of the AUADS High Council Facilitators:
Dr. Barryl A. Biekman
Mrs. Angela Sayles
Mrs. Nana Abena James
Dr. T. Kennedy

The official Press Release for the Maputo meeting is below in PAF format.  The Web site for the July 10-13 Maputo meeting is https://panafricanrootssynergyroundtable.com.

For media inquiries or further information, please contact:

Secretariat Facilitators African Union African Diaspora Sixth Region High Council
admin@auadshighcouncil.com