Organization
of African Unity
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BACKGROUND
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AU)
end of 1973 the OAU comprised 42 states: Algeria, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, the Central African Republic,
Chad, the Congo, Dahomey (now Benin), the Arab Republic of Egypt, Equatorial
Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, the Ivory
Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar (the Malagasy Republic),
Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda,
Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somali Democratic Republic, the Sudan, Swaziland,
Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Upper Volta, Zaire, and Zambia. Representatives
of the national liberation movements of African countries with colonial and
racist regimes participate in OAU work as observers.
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Objectives of the AU
a regional intergovernmental
political organization, formed at the Addis Ababa Conference of Independent
African States in May 1963. At theIn general, the African Union objectives are different and more comprehensive than those of the OAU. The OAU has served its mission and was due for replacement by a structure geared towards addressing the current needs of the continent.
The aims of the OAU are:
- To promote the unity and solidarity of African States;
- To coordinate and intensify their cooperation and
efforts to achieve a better life for the peoples of
- To defend their sovereignty, territorial integrity and
independence;
- To eradicate all forms of colonialism from
- To promote international cooperation.
- Achieve greater unity and solidarity between the
African countries and the peoples of
- 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, taking due account
of the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights;
- Promote peace, security, and stability on the continent;
- Promote democratic principles and institutions, popular
participation and good governance;
- Promote and protect human 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
Of crucial importance in the establishment of the organs of the
During the Lusaka Summit several references were made to the African Union being loosely based on the European Union model, in which respect it was said that
Whereas the OAU was in principle a political organisation that also discussed matters of economic and social concern, the African Union should be an organisation aimed at economic integration and social development, which should lead to political unity.
Pan-African Parliament (PAP)
The Protocol establishing the Pan African Parliament was adopted in 2000 during the OAU Summit in
Though the Constitutive Act of the African Union does not elaborate on the functions and powers of the Pan African Parliament, the Protocol provides that, for the first five years of the Parliament's existence, it will have advisory and consultative powers only.
Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC)
The Lusaka OAU Summit requested the Secretary General to submit to the 76th Ordinary Session of Council, i.e. July 2002, a report on ECOSOCC with recommendations on structure, areas of competence, criteria for selecting members of ECOSOCC, relationship between ECOSOCC and African regional NGOs and professional groups, ECOSOCC's Rules of Procedure and its work programme. This is one organ of the AU that will provide for civil society participation. The Lusaka Summit decision on ECOSOCC directs that member states will have to decide on the structure, functioning, areas of competence selection criteria, Rules of Procedure and work programme of the ECOSOCC.
Court of Justice
The Constitutive Act of the AU provides for the establishment of the Court of Justice and for a Protocol on its statute, composition and functions. It is still unclear what the exact functions and powers of the Court will be, and whether it will have jurisdiction over states or nationals. The functions and powers of the Court will be elaborated upon in a Protocol, which will clarify what the impact on domestic legislation will be.
Financial Institutions
Article 19 of the Act provides for the establishment of financial institutions whose rules and regulations shall be defined in protocols relating thereto. The implications of hosting these organs will only become apparent once the relevant protocols have been concluded. The institutions are:
- The African Bank
- The African Monetary Fund
- African Investment Bank
It is of critical importance that member States are active in the design and implementation of the African Union. In this way it will foster a sense of ownership and Member States will be able to address those aspects of the day-to-day functioning of the organisation which will streamline the implementation of decisions.
