Posted by Chester Morton / Sunday, 15 May 2016 / No comments
The aims and objectives of the African Union
Introduction
The continental organization, the
African Union, was launched at its inaugural Summit in Durban, South Africa
from 9th July 2002. There were 40 heads of state at that summit who
witnessed the ceremony.
The headquarters of the African Union
in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Until the AU was formed, the main organization of the
continent was the Organization of African Unity.
OBJECTIVES OF THE AFRICAN UNION
Unity between African countries
Achieve greater unity and
solidarity between the African countries and the peoples of Africa.
Defense
Defend the sovereignty,
territorial integrity and independence of its Member States.
Integration
Accelerate the political and
social and economic integration of the continent.
Promote African positions
Promote and defend African common
positions on issues of interest to the continent and its peoples.
International cooperation
Encourage international cooperation,
in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights.
Peace and Security
Promote peace, security, and
stability on the continent.
Democratic Principle
Promote democratic principles and
institutions, popular participation and good governance.
Protect Human Rights
Promote and protect human and
people’s rights in accordance with the African Charter on human and peoples’
Rights and other relevant human rights instruments.
Enabling Environment
Establish the necessary
conditions which enable the continent to play its rightful role in the global
economy and in international negotiations.
Sustainable Development
Promote sustainable development
at the economic, social and cultural levels as well as the integration of
African economies.
Cooperation
Promote cooperation in all fields
of human activity to raise the living standards of African peoples.
Coordinate Policies
Coordinate and harmonize policies
between existing and fixture Regional Economic Communities for the gradual
attainment of the objectives of the Union.
Promote Research
Advance the development of the
continent by promoting research in all fields, in particular in science and
technology.
Eliminate Preventable Diseases
Work with relevant international
partners in the eradication of preventable diseases and the promotion of good
health on the continent.
PRINCIPLES GOVERNING THE AFRICAN UNION
The African Union functions are
designed to function based on certain principles and some of those principles
are listed below:
1. Sovereign equality and interdependence among Member
States of the Union;
2. Respect of borders existing on achievement of
independence;
3. Participation of the African peoples in the activities of
the Union;
4. Establishment of common defense policy for the African
Continent;
5. Peaceful resolution of conflicts among the Member States of
the Union through such appropriate means as may be decided upon by the
Assembly;
6. Prohibition of the use of force or threat to use force
among the Member States of the Union;
7. Non-interference by any Member State in the internal
affairs of another;
8. The right of the Union to intervene in a Member State
pursuant to a decision of the Assembly in respect of grave circumstances,
namely war crimes genocide and crimes against humanity;
9. Peaceful co-existence of Member States and their right to
live in peace and security;
10. The right of Member States to request intervention from the
Union in order to restore peace and security;
11. Promotion of self-reliance within the framework of the
Union-
12. Promotion of gender equality;
13. Respect for democratic principles, human rights, the rule
of law and good governance;
14. Promotion of social justice to ensure balanced economic
development.
15. Respect for the sanctity of human life, condemnation, and
rejection of impunity and political assassination, acts of terrorism and
subversive activities;
16. Condemnation and rejection of unconstitutional changes of
governments.
WHY AFRICAN UNION WAS FORMED TO
REPLACE THE ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY
The interest of African Leaders
The O.A.U. had protected the
interests of African leaders without addressing the real problems of the
continent. Only the leaders mattered, the followers did not matter.
Non-interference
The Organization of African Unity
was not able to deal with the problem of extreme cases of human rights abuse
among member states because of the principle of non-interference in the
internal affairs of Member-States. This had prevented the organization from
taking required steps in dealing with such cases.
African Marginalization
The Organization of African Unity
had not been able to do anything about the economic marginalization of the
African continent. Africa seemed to have left behind by the rest of the world
and the O.A.U. was unable to do nothing to address the problem.
Dictator Regimes
Democracy was under a serious
threat by the presence and frequent emergence of despotic regimes in the African
states. This was not good enough for the fledgling democracy of the continent.
There was also a threat to the principle of the rule of law and good governance. These
principles were negotiable if the continent was to develop.
Involvement of Civil Society
The Organization of African Unity
did not involve civil society in its operations and there were no mechanisms
for doing so. This was considered as a loophole which alienated the
organization from the ordinary African.
Non-recognition of women
The structures and operations of
the O.A.U. failed to integrate women, youth and marginalized youth.
OAU at a Cross-road
By the end of the 20th century, all
African countries had become sovereign states. There was, therefore, no
struggle against colonialism or battle against Apartheid South Africa. The O.A.U. got
to a cross-road and did not to know which direction to take.
Internal Conflicts
The Organization of African Unity
had been demobilized by internal conflicts and self-serving leaders. If the
continent was to get out of the woods and make any meaningful progress, the situation
as it was, had to change.
Economic & Political
integration
The O.A.U. had failed to achieve
political and economic integration among member states. This had defeated the basic
reason for its formation which was unity.
SAMPLE QUESTION(S)
1. a. What is the African Union?
b. Highlight six objectives of the African
Union.
2. a. State four objectives for the
formation of the African Union.
b. Highlight five reasons why the African
Union had to replace the Organization of African Unity.
3. Discuss six issues that
necessitated the formation of the African Union to replace the Organization of
African Unity.
