African Union

African Union
African Union - supranational union in Africa · Public domain · source
Name	African Union
Headquarters	Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Membership	55 African countries

African Union is a continental organization consisting of all 55 African countries, with its headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The organization was established on July 9, 2002, at the Durban summit, South Africa, as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), founded by Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere, and Haile Selassie. The African Union aims to promote economic, political, and social integration among its member states, as envisioned by Thabo Mbeki, Olusegun Obasanjo, and Abdelaziz Bouteflika. The organization's creation was influenced by the European Union, United Nations, and the African Development Bank, with support from Nelson Mandela, Muammar Gaddafi, and Boutros Boutros-Ghali.

History

The history of the African Union dates back to the Pan-African Congress, which was first held in Paris in 1919, and was attended by prominent figures such as W.E.B. Du Bois, Marcus Garvey, and George Padmore. The Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was established on May 25, 1963, in Addis Ababa, with the signing of the OAU Charter by 32 African countries, including Egypt, Ghana, and Nigeria. The OAU played a significant role in the African independence movements, supporting the fight against apartheid in South Africa, and the Portuguese Colonial War in Angola, Mozambique, and Guinea-Bissau. The Sirte Declaration, adopted in 1999, laid the foundation for the creation of the African Union, with the support of leaders such as Muammar Gaddafi, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, and Thabo Mbeki, and the involvement of organizations like the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the African Development Bank.

Structure

The African Union has a complex structure, consisting of several organs, including the Assembly of the African Union, the Pan-African Parliament, the Executive Council of the African Union, and the African Union Commission. The Assembly of the African Union is the supreme organ, composed of the Heads of State and Government of member states, including Cyril Ramaphosa, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and Paul Kagame. The Pan-African Parliament is a legislative body, with representatives from each member state, including South Africa, Nigeria, and Egypt. The Executive Council of the African Union is responsible for the implementation of the organization's policies, with the support of the African Union Commission, which is headed by a Chairperson of the African Union Commission, such as Moussa Faki, and includes commissioners like Amira Elfadil and Amani Abou-Zeid.

Member_states

The African Union has 55 member states, including Algeria, Angola, Benin, and Botswana. Other member states include Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, and Cape Verde, as well as Central African Republic, Chad, and Comoros. The organization also includes Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, and Equatorial Guinea, as well as Eritrea, Eswatini, and Ethiopia. The member states are represented in the Assembly of the African Union by their Heads of State and Government, such as Paul Biya, Idriss Déby, and Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, and participate in the organization's activities, including the African Union Summit, and the Pan-African Youth Union.

Objectives_and_policies

The African Union has several objectives, including the promotion of economic integration, peace, and security, as outlined in the Constitutive Act of the African Union. The organization aims to achieve these objectives through various policies, including the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), and the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). The African Union also promotes social integration, through initiatives such as the African Youth Charter, and the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa. The organization's policies are influenced by the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, and the Sustainable Development Goals, and are implemented in collaboration with organizations like the World Health Organization, and the United Nations Children's Fund.

Programs_and_initiatives

The African Union has launched several programs and initiatives, including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM). The organization also has initiatives such as the African Union Youth Volunteer Corps, and the African Union Commission on International Law. The African Union has also established partnerships with other organizations, including the European Union, and the African Development Bank, to support the implementation of its programs, such as the African Union's Agenda 2063, and the Global Strategy for Women's, Children's and Adolescents' Health. The organization's programs are supported by leaders like António Guterres, Angela Merkel, and Emmanuel Macron, and are implemented in collaboration with institutions like the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund.

Relations_with_other_organizations

The African Union has established relations with other international organizations, including the United Nations, and the European Union. The organization also has partnerships with regional organizations, such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The African Union has also established relations with other continental organizations, including the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The organization's relations with other organizations are influenced by the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Group of 77, and are supported by leaders like Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The African Union participates in international forums, such as the G20, and the G7, and collaborates with institutions like the International Labour Organization, and the Food and Agriculture Organization.

Category:International organizations