African Union

African Union
African Union - supranational union in Africa · Public domain · source
Name	African Union
Linking name	the African Union
Flag caption	Flag
Symbol caption	Emblem
Membership	55 member states
Admin center	Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Languages	Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Swahili
Leader title1	Chairperson of the African Union
Leader name1	Mohamed Ould Ghazouani
Leader title2	Chairperson of the African Union Commission
Leader name2	Moussa Faki
Established event1	Organisation of African Unity founded
Established date1	25 May 1963
Established event2	Sirte Declaration
Established date2	9 September 1999
Established event3	Constitutive Act adopted
Established date3	11 July 2000
Established event4	Launched
Established date4	9 July 2002

African Union. The African Union is a continental union comprising 55 member states located on the continent of Africa. It was officially launched in Durban in 2002 as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity, aiming to accelerate socio-economic integration and promote peace, security, and democratic governance. The bloc's headquarters are in Addis Ababa, with other key organs located in Midrand, Banjul, and Nouakchott.

History

The organization traces its origins to the Pan-Africanism movement and the founding of the Organisation of African Unity in 1963 by leaders like Kwame Nkrumah and Haile Selassie I. The OAU focused on decolonization and supporting liberation movements, such as those in South Africa under apartheid and Rhodesia. Following the end of the Cold War, calls for reform culminated in the Sirte Declaration of 1999, championed by Muammar Gaddafi. The Constitutive Act of the African Union was adopted in Lomé in 2000, formally establishing the new union, which became operational after its first assembly in Maputo in 2003.

Structure and organs

The supreme decision-making body is the Assembly of the African Union, composed of heads of state and government. The executive arm is the African Union Commission, chaired by Moussa Faki, based in Addis Ababa. The principal judicial organ is the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights, seated in Arusha. Other critical institutions include the Pan-African Parliament in Midrand, the Peace and Security Council, and the African Development Bank in Abidjan. Specialized technical committees, such as those on Economic and Social Affairs, support sectoral policies.

Objectives and principles

Core objectives, as outlined in the Constitutive Act of the African Union, include achieving greater unity between African countries, defending sovereignty and territorial integrity, and promoting peace and security. Key principles involve the peaceful resolution of conflicts, prohibition of unconstitutional changes of government, and the promotion of gender equality. The union also advocates for Sustainable Development Goals and collective self-reliance through frameworks like Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.

Member states

All 55 sovereign states on the African continent are members, from Algeria in the north to South Africa in the south, and from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east. The only territory whose membership is suspended is Western Sahara, represented by the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. Membership was reaffirmed following the withdrawal and subsequent return of Morocco in 2017 after a 33-year absence. Each member state is represented in the Assembly of the African Union.

Peace and security

A cornerstone of its mandate is the maintenance of continental stability through the Peace and Security Council, established in 2004. The union authorizes military and political interventions, such as the African Union Mission in Somalia and the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur. It deploys election observers and mediates conflicts, including in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan. The union's stance against coups is enforced through suspensions of members like Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso.

Economic integration and development

Promoting economic prosperity is pursued through the African Continental Free Trade Area, launched in 2021, aiming to create a single market. Key financial institutions include the African Development Bank and the African Export–Import Bank. Sectoral development is guided by programs like the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme and the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa. The union also coordinates continental responses to challenges like HIV/AIDS and climate change, aligning with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

Category:African Union Category:International organizations