FRONT ROW FROM LEFT TO RIGHT H. E. Mrs Madeleine Liguemoh Ondoua / Ambassador of the Republic of Cameroon H.E. Ms Caroline Kitana Chipeta / Ambassador of the United Republic of Tanzania Ms Omaima Alsharief / Chargée d’ Affairs of the Republic of the Sudan H. E. Mrs Salima Abdelhak / Ambassador of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria H.E. Mr Vusimuzi Madonsela/ Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa H.E. Mrs Maria Isabel Gomes Godinho de Resende Encoge / Ambassador of the Republic of Angola Mr Jelte van Wieren / Director of Sub-Saharan Africa Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs H.E. Mr Francis Danti Kotia/ Ambassador of the Republic of Ghana H.E. Mr Mohamed Basri /Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco

BACK ROW FROM LEFT TO RIGHT Mr Omba Jean-Claude Olenga /Deputy Chief Mission of the Democratic Republic of Congo H.E. Mr Skander Denguezli /Ambassador of Republic of Tunisia Mrs Ebere Nnenne Ibekaku Chargée d’Affaires ad interim / Embassy of of the Federal Republic of Nigeria H.E. Ms Halima Yussuf Mucheke /Ambassador of the Republic of Kenya Mr Jean Hugues MUKAMA/ Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the Republic of Rwanda H.E. Ms Ramatoulaye Ba Faye/ Ambassador of the Republic of Senegal H.E. Ms Isabelle Ndahayo /Ambassador of the Republic of Burundi Mr Kouadio Georges Clovis Kouacou / Minister counsellor at the Embassy of The Republic of Côte d’Ivoire

Wassenaar, Netherlands – 27 May 2025

In a jubilant atmosphere, the African Ambassadors accredited to the Kingdom of the Netherlands gathered to celebrate Africa Day 2025—a powerful moment to honour Africa’s unity, heritage, and global momentum.

This annual celebration, traditionally held at the historic Kasteel De Wittenburg/Diplomat Club Wassenaar, has become a cherished diplomatic and cultural gathering in the Netherlands, showcasing the richness and vibrancy of the African continent.

The African Ambassadors warmly welcomed the guests at an evening graced by numerous dignitaries, including several fellow ambassadors—among them, the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, H.E. Mrs Sahar Ghanem, Ambassador of the Republic of Yemen; high-level Dutch officials; and representatives of international organisations, including H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, Director-General of the OPCW.
This year’s event was infused with the spirit of the African Union’s theme: “2025 YEAR OF REPARATIONS: Justice for Africans & People of African Descent through Reparations #YearofReparations”.

On behalf of the Group of African Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Her Excellency Ms Maria Isabel Resende Encoge, Ambassador of the Republic of Angola and Dean of the Group of African Diplomatic Corps, delivered a warm speech in which she also announced her departure to Berlin, as her posting in the Netherlands had come to an end. On 26th May, His Majesty King Willem-Alexander received Ambassador Resende Encoge in farewell audience. Before Mr Jelte van Wieren Director of Sub-Saharan Africa Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was to give his speech, Her Excellency Resende Encoge presented the new Dean of the Group of African Diplomatic Corps: the Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa, H.E. Mr Vusi Madonsela.

But beyond the speeches, Africa Day 2025 pulsed with celebration. The castle grounds echoed with the contagious beats of African drums, the soaring melodies of traditional instruments, and the enchanting dances of the performers. Dance troupes, clad in bright traditional garments, drew rounds of applause as they sparked the venue with energy and joy.

Guests enjoyed a curated tasting experience, featuring flavours from across the continent: spicy Senegalese jollof, Moroccan tagine, Algerian CousCous, and many other special dishes.

As celebrations unfolded across the continent and the diaspora, this gathering in the Netherlands stood out as a vibrant tribute to Africa’s achievements, diversity, and aspirations.

Africa Day 2025 was more than a diplomatic gala—it was a celebration of identity, a call to action, and a message to the world: Africa is shaping the future, and the world is taking notice.