African Union

1. African Union By SindhujaKuchibhatla

2. Organization of African Unity (OAU) • May 25, 1963 • Under the signatory of 32 governments • Objectives • To rid continent of remaining vestiges of colonization and apartheid • To promote unity and solidarity among African States • To coordinate and intensify cooperation of African States • To defend sovereignty and territorial independence of African States

3. Timeline • 1999: Assembly of OAU decides to expedite the process of economic and political integration in the continent by establishing an African Union • 2000: Lome Summit adopted Constitutive Act of the African Union • 2001: Lusaka Summit drew road map for implementation of the AU • 2002: Durban Summit launched the AU and on July 9, 2002, OAU is disbanded and replaced by the African Union (AU)

4. What is the African Union? • Pan-African organization • To propel a united continent towards peace and prosperity • 54 member nations • “An integrated, prosperous andpeaceful Africa, driven by its owncitizens and representing a dynamicforce in global arena.”

5. Important Documents • The Sirte Declaration: (September 9, 1999) Heads of State and Government of the OAU issued a declaration calling for the establishment of an African Union to accelerate the process of integration in the continent. • Constitutive Act of the African Union: (adopted in 2000, entered into force in 2001) has 33 articles, each of which explain the establishment, objectives, principles, organs, meetings, and membership of the African Union. Basically acts a blue-print for the establishment of the African Union

6. Age of Organization • Established in 2002 by the nations of the former Organization of African Unity (OAU) • Has not changed much from the original • Still continues to follow Constitutive Act

7. Purpose • To promote African economic, social, and political integration • Other objectives: • To achieve greater unity and solidarity between the African countries and the peoples of Africa • To defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of its Member States • To accelerate the political and socio-economic  integration of the continent  • To encourage international cooperation • To promote peace, security, and stability on the continent • To promote democratic principles and institutions, popular participation and good governance • To promote and protect human and peoples' rights

8. Membership • As of March 15, 2012, there are 54 nations • Admission to Membership: • According to Article 29, any African State can enter with a notification to the Chairman of the Commission. • The Chairman of the Commission sends copies of notification to all Member States and admission is decided by a majority of the Member States. • Cessation of Membership: • The State must forward a written notification to the Chairman of Commission, who then informs the Member States. • Up to one year of the notification, the Act still applies to the State. After the one year period, the Act shall cease to apply to the State and the State will cease to belong to the Union.

9. Leadership • Assembly: • Composed of Heads of State and Government • Supreme organ of the Union • Meet at least once a year • Office of Chairman of Assembly is held for a period of one year • Powers: to determine common policies of the Union, to consider requests for membership, and to receive, consider, and take decisions on reports and recommendations from the other organs • Executive Council • Composed of Ministers of Foreign Affairs • Meets at least twice a year • Takes decisions based on two-thirds majority of Member States

10. Leadership (cont.) • Pan-African Parliament • currently has 230 members • follows a specific protocol to promote coordination and harmonization of policies and laws of the Member States • Court of Justice: lay down rules and ensure protection of human rights • Commission: • Key organ in carrying out day-to-day management • Consists of Chairperson, Deputy of Chair Person, 8 Commissioners, and Staff Members • Represents Union and defends its interests, prepares strategic plans for the consideration of the Executive Council • Elected by the Assembly • Current Chairperson: YayiBoni (January 29, 2012- Present)

11. Advantages & Disadvantages Advantages Disadvantages • More security • Receives aid from countries around the world on its promise for peace and health for all Africans • Promotes scientific and technological advancements • Tries to improve educational and career opportunities • Loosely modeled off the EU, but AU is set in an unstable, war-torn area. EU is situated in a stable and prosperous area. • No set economic or political requirements for membership • Member states have massive levels of poverty • Many people in Africa have diseases like HIV/AIDS

13. Works Cited • "African Union Endorses Nigeria's Finance Minister for World Bank President | Africa | English." Voice of America ®. Web. 27 Mar. 2012. <http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/Butty-African-Union-World-Bank-President-Doley-27march12-144326485.html>. • "African Union Opens Chinese-funded HQ in Ethiopia." BBC News. BBC, 28 Jan. 2012. Web. 27 Mar. 2012. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16770932>. • "African Union." About.com Geography. 02 Sept. 2011. Web. 27 Mar. 2012. <http://geography.about.com/od/africamaps/a/African-Union.htm>. • "Chairperson of the African Union." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 23 Mar. 2012. Web. 27 Mar. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chairperson_of_the_African_Union>. • "The Commission." Www.africa-union.org. Web. 27 Mar. 2012. <http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/organs/The_Commission_en.htm>. • "Constitutive Act." Www.africa-union.org. Web. 27 Mar. 2012. <http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/aboutau/constitutive_act_en.htm>. • "PressTV - Iran Supports African Union Efforts to Restore Peace in Mali." Press TV. Web. 27 Mar. 2012. <http://www.presstv.ir/detail/233210.html>. • "Untitled Document." Www.africa-union.org. Web. 27 Mar. 2012. <http://www.africa-union.org/about_au/au_in_a_nutshell.htm>.