The African Union (AU) is a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African Continent. It was officially launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU, 1963-1999).
History:
In May 1963, 32 Heads of independent African States met in Addis Ababa Ethiopia to sign the Charter creating Africa`s first post-independence continental institution, The Organisation of African Unity (OAU). The OAU was the manifestation of the pan-African vision for an Africa that was united, free and in control of its own destiny and this was solemnised in the OAU Charter in which the founding fathers recognised that freedom, equality, justice and dignity were essential objectives for the achievement of the legitimate aspirations of the African peoples and that there was a need to promote understanding among Africa`s peoples and foster cooperation among African states in response to the aspirations of Africans for brother-hood and solidarity, in a larger unity transcending ethnic and national Differences. The guiding philosophy was that of Pan-Africanism which centred on African socialism and promoted African unity, the communal characteristic and practices of African communities, and a drive to embrace Africa`s culture and common heritage.
Read the speeches from the 1st OAU Summit in 1963
The main objectives of the OAU were to rid the continent of the remaining vestiges of colonisation and apartheid; to promote unity and solidarity amongst African States; to coordinate and intensify cooperation for development; to safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Member States and to promote international cooperation. The OAU Charter spelled out the purpose of the Organisation namely:
To promote the unity and solidarity of the African States;
To coordinate and intensify their cooperation and efforts to achieve a better life for the peoples of Africa;
To defend their sovereignty, their territorial integrity and independence;
To eradicate all forms of colonialism from Africa; and
To promote international cooperation, having due regard to the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Through the OAU Coordinating Committee for the Liberation of Africa, the Continent worked and spoke as one with undivided determination in forging an international consensus in support of the liberation struggle and the fight against apartheid. The OAU had provided an effective forum that enabled all Member States to adopt coordinated positions on matters of common concern to the continent in international fora and defend the interests of Africa effectively.
On 9.9.1999, the Heads of State and Government of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) issued the Sirte Declaration calling for the establishment of an African Union, with a view, to accelerating the process of integration in the continent to enable Africa to play its rightful role in the global economy while addressing multifaceted social, economic and political problems compounded as they were by certain negative aspects of globalisation.
The launch of the African Union:
The African Union (AU) was officially launched in July 2002 in Durban, South Africa, following a decision in September 1999 by its predecessor, the OAU to create a new continental organisation to build on its work. The decision to re-launch Africa`s pan-African organisation was the outcome of a consensus by African leaders that in order to realise Africa`s potential, there was a need to refocus attention from the fight for decolonisation and ridding the continent of apartheid, which had been the focus of the OAU, towards increased cooperation and integration of African states to drive Africa`s growth and economic development.
The AU is guided by its vision of [An Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena."
The Constitutive Act of the African Union and the Protocol on Amendments to the Constitutive Act of the African Union lay out the aims of the AU which are:
Achieve greater unity and solidarity between African countries and their the people
Defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of its Member States;
Accelerate the political and socio-economic integration of the continent;
Promote and defend African common positions on issues of interest to the continent and its peoples;
Encourage international cooperation
Promote peace, security, and stability on the continent;
Promote democratic principles and institutions, popular participation and good governance;
Promote and protect human and peoples` rights in accordance with the African Charter on Human and Peoples` Rights and other relevant human rights instruments;
Establish the necessary conditions which enable the continent to play its rightful role in the global economy and in international negotiations;
Promote sustainable development at the economic, social and cultural levels as well as the integration of African economies;
Promote cooperation in all fields of human activity to raise the living standards of African peoples;
Coordinate and harmonise the policies between the existing and future Regional Economic Communities for the gradual attainment of the objectives of the Union;
Advance the development of the continent by promoting research in all fields, in particular in science and technology
Work with relevant international partners in the eradication of preventable diseases and the promotion of good health on the continent.
Ensure the effective participation of women in decision-making, particularly in the political, economic and socio-cultural areas;
Develop and promote common policies on trade, defence and foreign relations to ensure the defence of the Continent and the strengthening of its negotiating positions;
Invite and encourage the full participation of the African Diaspora as an important part of our Continent, in the building of the African Union.
The work of the AU is implemented through several principal decision making organs:- The Assembly of Heads of State and Government, the Executive Council, the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC), Specialised Technical Committees (STCs), the Peace and Security Council and The African Union Commission. The AU structure promotes participation of African citizens and civil society through the Pan-African Parliament and the Economic, Social & Cultural Council (ECOSOCC).
Organs that handle judicial and legal matters as well as human rights issues include:- African Commission on Human and Peoples` Rights (ACHPR), African Court on Human and Peoples` Rights (AfCHPR), AU Commission on International Law (AUCIL), AU Advisory Board on Corruption (AUABC) and the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. The AU is also working towards the establishment of continental financial institutions (The African Central Bank, The African Investment Bank and the African Monetary Fund)
The Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and the African Peer Review Mechanism are also key bodies that that constitute the structure of the African Union.
To ensure the realisation of its objectives and the attainment of the Pan African Vision of an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, Agenda 2063 was developed as a strategic framework for Africa`s long term socio-economic and integrative transformation. Agenda 2063 calls for greater collaboration and support for African led initiatives to ensure the achievement of the aspirations of African people.
Member States
The AU is made up of 55 Member States which represent all the countries on the African continent. AU Member States are divided into five geographic regions. which were defined by the OAU in 1976 (CM/Res.464QCXVI).
The following list shows all members states grouped by region, in alphabetical order, and their date of joining the AU or its predecessor the OAU.
Central Africa
| Member State | Abbreviation | Date of joining
the OAU or AU |
| Republic of Burundi | Burundi | 25 May 1963 |
| Republic of Cameroon | Cameroon | 25 May 1963 |
| Central African Republic | Central African Republic | 25 May 1963 |
| Republic of Chad | Chad | 25 May 1963 |
| Republic of the Congo | Congo Republic | 25 May 1963 |
| Democratic Republic of Congo | DR Congo | 25 May 1963 |
| Republic of Equatorial Guinea | Equatorial Guinea | 12 October 1968 |
| Gabonese Republic | Gabon | 25 May 1963 |
| Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe | São Tomé and Príncipe | 18 July 1975 |
Eastern Africa
| Member State | Abbreviation | Date of joining
the OAU or AU |
| Union of the Comoros | Comoros | 18 July 1975 |
| Republic of Djibouti | Djibouti | 27 June 1977 |
| State of Eritrea | Eritrea | 24 May 1993 |
| Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia | Ethiopia | 25 May 1963 |
| Republic of Kenya | Kenya | 25 May 1963 |
| Republic of Madagascar | Madagascar | 25 May 1963 |
| Republic of Mauritius | Mauritius | August 1968 |
| Republic of Rwanda | Rwanda | 25 May 1963 |
| Republic of Seychelles | Seychelles | 29 June 1976 |
| Federal Republic of Somalia | Somalia | 25 May 1963 |
| Republic of South Sudan | South Sudan | 27 July 2011 |
| Republic of the Sudan | Sudan | 25 May 1963 |
| United Republic of Tanzania | Tanzania | 25 May 1963 |
| Republic of Uganda | Uganda | 25 May 1963 |
Northern Africa
| Member State | Abbreviation | Date of joining
the OAU or AU |
| People`s Democratic Republic of Algeria | Algeria | 25 May 1963 |
| Arab Republic of Egypt | Egypt | 25 May 1963 |
| Libya | Libya | 25 May 1963 |
| Islamic Republic of Mauritania | Mauritania | 25 May 1963 |
| Kingdom of Morocco | Morocco | 1963/31 January 2017 |
| Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic | Sahrawi Republic | 22 February 1982 |
| Republic of Tunisia | Tunisia | 25 May 1963 |
Southern Africa
| Member State | Abbreviation | Date of joining
the OAU or AU |
| Republic of Angola | Angola | 11 February 1975 |
| Republic of Botswana | Botswana | 31 October 1966 |
| Kingdom of Eswatini | Eswatini | 24 September 1968 |
| Kingdom of Lesotho | Lesotho | 31 October 1966 |
| Republic of Malawi | Malawi | 13 July 1964 |
| Republic of Mozambique | Mozambique | 18 July 1975 |
| Republic of Namibia | Namibia | June 1990 |
| Republic of South Africa | South Africa | 6 June 1994 |
| Republic of Zambia | Zambia | 16 December 1964 |
| Republic of Zimbabwe | Zimbabwe | 18 June 1980 |
Western Africa
| Member State | Abbreviation | Date of joining
the OAU or AU |
| Republic of Benin | Benin | 25 May 1963 |
| Burkina Faso | Burkina Faso | 25 May 1963 |
| Republic of Cabo Verde | Cabo Verde | 18 July 1975 |
| Republic of Côte d`Ivoire | Côte d`Ivoire | 25 May 1963 |
| Republic of the Gambia | Gambia | 9 March 1965 |
| Republic of Ghana | Ghana | 25 May 1963 |
| Republic of Guinea | Guinea | 25 May 1963 |
| Republic of Guinea-Bissau | Guinea-Bissau | 19 November 1973 |
| Republic of Liberia | Liberia | 25 May 1963 |
| Republic of Mali | Mali | 25 May 1963 |
| Republic of Niger | Niger | 25 May 1963 |
| Federal Republic of Nigeria | Nigeria | 25 May 1963 |
| Republic of Senegal | Senegal | 25 May 1963 |
| Republic of Sierra Leone | Sierra Leone | 25 May 1963 |
| Togolese Republic | Togo | 25 May 1963 |
