The African Union

Last updated June 2009

The African Union (AU) is an international organization comprising all but one of Africa's states as its members. Founded in 2002, the AU is the principal organization for the promotion of economic integration, political stability, conflict resolution and unity in Africa. It represents the new architecture of pan-Africanism - the idea that people of African descent share common bonds and must unite to overcome common challenges. The AU has 53 member states - Morocco chose not to be a member because of its dispute with the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (Western Sahara), which is a member of the AU.

The current Chairperson of the Assembly of the AU is Muammar al-Gaddafi, the leader of Libya. He has appointed by the Assembly of the AU in February, 2009, for a term length of a year.

On May 27, 2009, U.S. President Obama announced his intent to nominate Michael A. Battle, Sr. for U.S. Representative to the African Union with the Rank of Ambassador. Battle was the Former Vice-President of Africa Action's predecessor organization, the American Committee on Africa. The first U.S. Ambassador to the AU, Cindy Courville, was confirmed in September 2006.

AU Structure

• The AU Assembly - the Assembly is currently the highest decision-making body of the African Union, comprising heads of states of all member countries;
• The African Commission - the Commission is the secretariat of the AU, responsible for preparing strategic plans and taking actions where common positions have been established. Unique among all international bodies, it guarantees gender parity of 5 women and 5 men;
• The Pan-African Parliament - the Parliament is comprised of five members from each national parliament, and is intended to perform only an advisory role for the first five years. After that, representatives will be elected to the Parliament and it will have full legislative powers;
• The Executive Council - the Council comprises the Ministers of Foreign Affairs (or other such Ministers) of member countries and is responsible for matters such as foreign trade, social security, agriculture, and communications;
• The Permanent Representatives' Committee - the Committee comprises representatives of member states and is responsible for preparing the work for the Executive Council;
• The Peace and Security Council (PSC) - the 15-member Council acts as a decision-making organ for the prevention, management, and resolution of conflicts on the continent;
• The African Court of Justice - the Court’s 11 judges are appointed by the Assembly and have jurisdiction over all cases submitted to the Court concerning the interpretation and application of the AU Charter and relevant human rights protocols ratified by member states;
• The Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) - the Council is an advisory organ intended to provide an opportunity for African civil society to contribute to the principles, policies, and programs of the AU. It is composed of 150 civil society organizations from member states and the Diaspora, reflecting gender parity and 50% youth representation.

Background

The AU replaced its predecessor, the Organization of African Unity (OAU). Founded in 1963, the OAU played a pivotal role in ridding the continent of colonial rule and provided support for liberation movements in southern Africa. Critics charged that the OAU came to represent primarily the interests of Heads of State, which rendered it unable to address some of the continent's most pressing problems, particularly those related to poor governance. To overcome the inadequacies of the OAU, African leaders envisioned a new organization that would be more representative and effective in promoting economic development, political stability, and democracy and human rights.

The African Union is an aspiring union, and as such it has ambitious plans to establish an African Standby Force, an African Monetary Fund, an African Central Bank, and an African economic zone with a single currency by 2023. The AU has made progress towards greater integration by launching the African Parliament in 2004, the Peace and Security Council in 2004, and ECOSOCC in 2005.

At the AU Summit in January of 2008, the Assembly focused on the industrial development of Africa. Other issues discussed were the role of the youth in Africa, climate change, reinforcement of partnership, integration, the principle of non-indifference and peace and security within the continent. Also emphasized was a need for African countries to respect the rules and principles of democracy.

A 2006 AU report entitled "An African Union Government: Towards the United States of Africa" proposed a three-phase process to achieve a continental Union Government. The African states, however, have yet to reach consensus and adopt the plan.

The AU has had some successes in conflict resolution and promoting democracy on the continent. In 2003, it deployed peacekeeping troops in Burundi and later successfully handed over the mission to the United Nations (UN). In early 2005, it took action to support democracy in Togo after the death of Africa's longest ruling dictator Gnassingbe Eyadema. On August 3, 2005, a coup in Mauritania led the African Union to suspend the country from all organizational activities. In March 2007, Mauritania held its first fully democratic Presidential election since 1960, an event that marked the transfer from military to civilian rule. President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi was elected for a five-year term, and in April 2007 Mauritania was readmitted to the African Union. The AU also monitored the 2006 elections in Zambia, declaring them to be free and fair and urging political parties that participated to accept the will of the people as expressed through the polls.


Challenges Facing the AU

Darfur
While the AU's response to the crisis in Darfur highlights its commitment to conflict resolution, it also represents its biggest challenge to date. The AU negotiated an initial ceasefire and hosted peace talks between the Sudanese government and representatives of Darfur's rebel groups. Such political negotiations, however, are currently stalled. The AU also led initial peacekeeping efforts for the region, assembling a 7,000-person force (AMIS) that began deployment in 2004. Lacking training, capacity, and even basic resources such as the funds necessary to pay troop salaries, this force was ineffective. In July 2007, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution authorizing the creation of a "hybrid" UN-AU hybrid force that in December 2007 replaced AMIS. The new mission, known as UNAMID, is supposed to be equipped with greater resources to protect civilians and humanitarian workers and to oversee implementation of a tenuous peace agreement or facilitate future negotiations.

In fact, however, UNAMID has been crippled by lack of international support and obstruction by the government of Sudan. Currently, UNAMID has 15,351 troops on the ground, despite having an authorized strength of 19,555 troops. Despite successes in some regions of Darfur, the hybrid force has so far failed to be much more effective than its AU predecessor at protecting the people of Darfur.

President Omar Al-Bashir was indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and crimes against humanity in March 2009. Bashir has not been arrested and shows no intention to appear before the Court. The African Union has supported Al-Bashir by asking the ICC to invoke article 16 of its charter and suspend the indictment for at least one year.

HIV/AIDS
Another formidable challenge facing the AU is the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Africa is ground zero of the crisis, home to nearly two-thirds of those living with HIV/AIDS worldwide. In 2007, more than three quarters of all deaths due to AIDS occurred in Africa; around 2.1 million Africans died of AIDS in that year alone. The AU issued the Maputo Declaration in July 2003, in which governments reaffirmed their commitment to increase health sector spending to 15% of all expenditures. In May 2006, AU member states convened for a Special Summit on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, outlining the specific challenges faced by African nations and renewing their governments' commitments to address these issues. In 2009, the AU Conference of Ministers of Health reiterated their commitment to providing universal access to quality health services and to improve maternal, neonatal and child health on the continent by 2010. The AU has also focused on addressing the issue of HIV/AIDS among the military.

To achieve its ambitious vision of continental integration, the African Union must create and make effective its institutions, live up to its Constitutive Act and place the rights of Africa's people ahead of sovereignty concerns. The African Union also has to amplify Africa's voice in critical international debates such as those regarding the expansion of the size of the United Nation's Security Council and World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations. The success of the UN-AU hybrid mission in Darfur is important not just for the sake of the people of Darfur, but also for the future credibility of multilateral peacekeeping operations and both the UN and AU generally as institutions. International support remains critical to this success.

Resources on the African Union

Darfur Advocates Call on Special Envoy Gration to Make UNAMID Effectiveness a Top Priority
July 27, 2009
"In a letter delivered to U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Scott Gration this month signed by 36 organizations, Darfur advocates urged General Gration to ensure that the operations of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) are not hindered by the Sudanese government..."  Go >

Africa Action Talking Points on the G8 and Africa
July 6, 2009
"As the G8 leaders meet in Italy for the newest conference, new action must be taken to demonstrate that their stated objectives last year, along with those from 2005, reflect more than just rhetoric..."  Go >

Africa Action Condemns Escalating Human Rights Abuses in Zimbabwe and Calls for Immediate Intervention
April 28, 2008
"In this statement, Africa Action roundly condemns the escalation of human rights violations in Zimbabwe and calls upon the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the African Union (AU), and the United Nations (UN) to immediately intervene to resolve the deteriorating post election crisis..."  Go >

Africa Action Releases Statement on Escalating Human Rights Abuses in Zimbabwe
April 28, 2008
"Systematic acts of violence and human rights abuses are on the rise in Zimbabwe as the post election crisis deepens. Today Africa Action released a statement condemning these abuses and calling for action..."  Go >

BBC Profile: African Union
"The BBC website provides an overview of the history of the African Union, important facts, and key leaders and issues..."  Go >

Protocol of the Court of Justice of the African Union
"This document is the Protocol that established the Court of Justice of the African Union. The Protocol also outlines the structure of this court, which will rule on human rights abuses in Africa..."  Go >

The African Union
This is the official website of the African Union.  Go >

Strategic Plan of the African Union Commission
This it the 2004 – 2007 strategic framework of the Commission of the African Union.  Go >

The Situation in Darfur
This African Union website provides information on the latest developments in Darfur, Sudan.  Go >

Africa Union Watch
This website from Pambazuka News is a good resource for anyone interested in developments in the African Union and offers good analyses of AU operations.  Go >

Q&A: The African Union
This BBC website has good information on the history of the African Union and the Organization of African Unity. It also profiles some of the key players in the AU.  Go >

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