African Union Chairperson Mourns Global Civil Rights Icon, Hon. Rev. Jesse Jackson

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, has joined global leaders in mourning the passing of Hon. Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson, who died at the age of 84. He described him as a towering figure whose life’s work resonated deeply with Africa’s historic and continuing struggles for justice, dignity, equality and liberation.

In an official statement, the Chairperson underscored that Rev. Jackson’s decades of advocacy for civil rights, economic justice and political inclusion aligned closely with the mandate of the African Union to promote human rights, combat racial discrimination and advance the global African agenda. This includes recognition of the African diaspora as the continent’s Sixth Region.

As founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and a close associate of Martin Luther King Jr., Rev. Jackson stood at the forefront of the struggle against systemic racism and injustice. The Chairperson noted that his activism echoed the spirit of Africa’s anti-colonial and anti-apartheid movements, reinforcing the global fight against racial oppression in all its forms.

Rev. Jackson consistently promoted a strong and interconnected relationship between African Americans and the African continent. He popularised the term African American in the 1980s, affirming identity, heritage and historical consciousness among people of African descent. He viewed the diaspora not only as a cultural community but as a vital economic and political partner for Africa’s development and global influence. In his framing, the Atlantic Ocean was not a divide but a bridge linking peoples bound by history, resilience and shared aspirations. He urged a shift from neglect to mutually beneficial engagement between Africa and its diaspora.

The Chairperson further observed that Rev. Jackson expressed enduring solidarity with African liberation movements and lent moral support to the struggle against apartheid, contributing to international mobilisation that dismantled institutionalised racial segregation in Southern Africa. His calls for fairness in global governance, inclusive economic systems and restorative justice continue to resonate with the African Union’s priorities, including reparative justice for the historical injustices of slavery, colonialism and apartheid.

“Rev. Jesse Jackson’s life reflected the inseparable bond between Africa and its diaspora,” the Chairperson stated. “His unwavering commitment to justice and human dignity strengthened the Pan-African vision and advanced the shared quest for decolonisation, equality and reparation.”

The Chairperson conveyed condolences to Rev. Jackson’s wife, Jacqueline, his family, the Government and people of the United States of America and the global civil rights community.

For Africa, his passing is not only the loss of a global civil rights icon but of a bridge builder who insisted that the continent and its diaspora share a common destiny. As young African nations continue shaping their institutions and asserting their place in global governance, his life serves as a reminder that solidarity across oceans can help correct history’s injustices. The journey towards dignity and equality remains unfinished, yet Africa’s voice, strengthened by generations of allies at home and abroad, grows clearer with each passing year.