Union means the african union established by the present constitutive act. Copies were distributed to government delegations and african union. Ssa and the african union au during the last decade. A preliminary assessment and docu mentation, 2001 25 current african issues 7. Based in ethiopia, the africa union, established in july 2002, is the successor to the organization of african unity, created in 1963.
These great institution has plowed their resources and manpower towards africa a success story. With its 54 member states, the au is the worlds largest and most diverse regional organisation in terms of member income levels, populations and geographic features. It was exactly eight years after the signing of the treaty of vereeniging, which had brought the second angloboer war to an end. Melber, the new african initiative and the african union. The african union by makaria green the african union au was established on july 8, 2001. Trywell kalusopa kwabena nyarko otoo hilma shindondolamote.
Since then, the african union assembly has formally endorsed agenda 2063 and we have rededicated ourselves to the enduring panafrican. In the past year amara essy, secretary general of the oau, worked very closely with leaders from throughout africa to develop a charter constitution for the new african union. In recognition of this, african leaders met to kickstart the developmental cause and formed organization of african unity oau in 1963. Union of african states a short lasting union of three west african states mali. Article 2 establishment the african union is hereby established in accordance with the provisions of this act. Zimbabwes president robert mugabe has been appointed as chairman of african union au he will be th chairman of african union au and succeed mauritanian president mohamed ould abdel aziz for a oneyear term.
The african union au is a continental union consisting of 55 member states located on the continent of africa. The african union au is the continental champion on political cooperation and economic integration in africa. As the successor to the organisation of african unity oua, which was created in 1963 to eliminate the last vestiges of colonialism in africa, the african union au came into existence in july 2002 at the durban heads of state summit with the more focused goal of propelling african states towards peace and prosperity as the basis for achieving the ultimate goal of political. The african unions vision is to support an integrated, prosperous, and peaceful africa, driven by its own people and representing a dynamic force in the global arena. The chairperson of the african union commission auc occupies an important. The creation of the african union as a new panafrican body is not a sudden happening that has not been anticipated in the african history. The history of the african union from its formation in the 1960s to the present. Africans must be optimistic about a continental union. A pdf version of this book is available on the au website. The major challenge facing the african union is the lack of funds. A man named sylvester williams, born in trinidad at the tail end of the 20th century was the originator of panafricanism, since he was the first to publicly state and define what it was.
On may 31, 1910, the union of south africa was formed under british dominion. Modern ghana will not be responsible or liable for any inaccurate or incorrect statements contained in this article. As the african union continues to make progress in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, the imperative for comprehensive and integrated actions and plans for the recovery, reconstruction and development of societies recovering from conflicts becomes paramount. African union and the developmental transformation of. The politicking behind the scenes for the formation of the union of south africa allowed the foundations of apartheid to be laid. This handbook is published by the african union au in partnership with the new zealand government, publisher of the annual united nations handbook for more than 50 years. The au was announced in the sirte declaration in sirte, libya, on 9 september 1999, calling for the establishment of the african union. The year 2017 is one in which we saw our member states focus on what unites us, how africa.
African union handbook, which is an invaluable resource for those who work both with and within the african union. The eu as a model for the african union archive of european. It is composed of 53 countries in africa and is loosely based on the european union. It is my pleasure to begin a new tradition of the outgoing assembly chairperson introducing the book each year. It was rather a result of the ageold process of panafrican movements in different courses of history.
Abbreviations african union member state names unless otherwise noted, the full names on the left are as listed in the african union au constitutive. Oau organisation of african trade union unity odc offshore development company. Identify the sources of african union law by giving appropriate examples. Its predecessor was the organization for african unity oauestablished in 1963.
Kimenyi, senior fellow, africa growth initiative the priority late in 2014, as the ebola crisis escalated, a. It was rather a result of the ageold process of pan african movements in different courses of history. The constitutive act of the african union 271 tegrity which are more states rights than human or peoples rights. The host president and the aus first president, thabo mbeki, even promised that the union would liberate the african people from their misery. The african union has achieved so many things and has played significant roles in the peace and economic stability of the continent. The importance of an african union basil enwegbara. The african union au needs to adequately address the needs and aspirations of citizens in the implementation of its progressive normative framework on unconstitutional changes. The constitutive act of the african union, african courts. Analyze the various african union instruments by taking relevant cases. The african union is a geopolitical entity covering the entirety of the african continent. These african countries work diplomatically with each other despite differences in geography, history, race, language, and religion to try to improve the political, economic, and social situations for the approximately one. The body was established on 26 may 2001 in addis ababa, ethiopia, and launched on.
The viewscontents expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not neccessarily reflect those of modern ghana. The search began with the organization of african unity in 1963. The african supernational organisation later metamorphosed to african union au in july 2002 following the adoption of 53 african leaders i. The bloc was founded on 26 may 2001 in addis ababa, ethiopia, and launched on 9 july 2002 in durban, south africa. No doubt, this is the same space in which innovative and technological developments characterising todays world must also be embraced akande 2010. An example of the importance of the au is the success story of the african peace and security architecture apsa that has. Updated to include moroccos rejoining of the union in. What milestones has the african union actually achieved.
The position of chairman of the au is a rotating one on yearly basis and largely ceremonial. The african union is one of the worlds most important intergovernmental organizations. The charter that created the oau was the result of several multinational african conferences held in the 1950s and 1960s aimed at supporting africans. The african union au is a continental union comprising 54 countries in africa. We, heads of state and government of the member states of the. The first part examines libyas attempt to promote the united states of africa agenda. Several members have come and gone throughout its history. These calls are premised on africas ability to selfidentify in terms of mapping its own capacities and. Enumerate accurately those rights and interests of african union protected by international and national law taking into consideration that ethiopia is a seat of the union. Conclusions african union,peace and security department. Modelled on the longstanding united nations handbook, this handbook o. Its origin dates back to the first congress of independence african states, held in accra, ghana, from 15 to 22 april 1958. It is their common responsibility to realize a dream of a united africa because leadership only succeeds when the people are ready and willing to press for success. No one can dare to have a fullfledged figure of the his.
On behalf of the african union heads of state and government, it is my pleasure to introduce the 2019 edition of the. The au aims include promoting democracy, human rights, and sustainable economic development across africa, especially by increasing foreign investment through the new partnership for africas development nepad. African union can be traced back to the 1960s when the union of african states was established as an early confederation to the foundation of organization of african unity oau and the african economic ommunity in the 1980 s. The african union au was established on july 8, 2001. In august 2010, usaid and the african union signed their first longterm assistance agreement to advance prosperity, peace, and stability in africa. These african countries work diplomatically with each other despite differences in geography, history, race, language, and religion to try to improve the political, economic, and social situations for the. African union or african utopia, in reaction to the sirte. Africa the chairperson of the african union commission auc occupies an important position in the regional body. It was founded in durban on july 10, 2002, replacing the organization of african unity oau. Article 3 objectives the objectives of the union shall be to. African union on behalf of african union heads of state and government, welcome to the 2018 edition of the african union handbook. The conference aimed at forming the africa day to mark the liberation movement, each year, regarding the willingness of the african people to free themselves from foreign. African union commission, roosvelt street old airport area w.
The launch took place during the 15th ordinary summit of the african union in kampala, uganda. The creation of the african union as a new pan african body is not a sudden happening that has not been anticipated in the african history. Its weakness was made all too evident when the european union eu and others, prepared resolution 1973 and its implementation for the libyan crisis in. However, as her older sister the organisation of african unity oau, the african union au is struggling to resolve the multiple crises facing the continent and to assume its responsibilities. India african union relations background the african union is an international organisation consisting of 54 african member states excluding morocco but including saharwi adr. As envisioned the african union would have some resemblance to the european union, but it would reflect the needs and realities of africa. The right of intervention under the african unions constitutive act.
Reproduction is authorised provided the authors permission is granted. The african union is the institutional manifestation of the desire for integration in africa. Trade union services and benefits in africa edited by. Track record and prospects key messages 1 do not panic about the state of the african union. The handbook, now in its fourth edition, is produced in partnership with the african union commission.
The european union and the african union foreword eurostat, the statistical office of the european union, and the statistics division of the african union commission austat are proud to present the fifth edition of this yearbook, which offers a broad comparative view of the eu and au regions in figures. In 1999, the heads of state government of the oau issued the sirte. African union commission a year ago, i wrote in this foreword about how the african union is moving towards agenda 2063, the unions new collective vision and roadmap for africas growth and development. Welcome to the 2017 edition of the african union handbook. Au relations congressional research service 3 successor to the nowdefunct organization of african unity oau. The european union and the african union foreword eurostat, the statistical office of the european union, and the statistics division of the african union commission are proud to present the fourth edition of this yearbook, which aims to offer a broad comparative view of the eu and au regions in figures. There are current calls for africa to define itself culturally, politically, and economically.
106 808 53 915 1348 1536 780 999 1210 1278 1596 206 1361 108 1311 1309 228 989 1272 202 1 744 151 60 117 1546 693 424 226 1197 984 385 1598 49 1199 795 982 1226 1353 686