Legal and International Section - African Union (AU)

 

 African Union (AU)

 Overview & Purpose

The African Union is a continental organization made up of 55 African Union Member States. It was formally launched in Durban, South Africa, in July 2002, replacing the Organization of African Unity (OAU), which had been established in 1963. Its vision is: “An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.”

purpose:

  • Promote unity and solidarity among African states,
  • Defend sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of its member states,
  • Accelerate political and socio-economic integration of the continent,
  • Promote peace, security, and stability,
  • Encourage democratic principles, good governance, and human rights,
  • Coordinate and harmonize policies between member states, RECs, and partners, and,
  • Advance sustainable development and cooperation in all fields of human activity.

 Organs of the African Union

  1. The Assembly of the Union – Heads of State and Government, the supreme decision-making organ,
  2. The Executive Council – Ministers (usually of Foreign Affairs) responsible for preparing Assembly decisions,
  3. The Permanent Representatives’ Committee (PRC) – Ambassadors based in Addis Ababa overseeing daily work,
  4. The African Union Commission (AUC) – The AU’s Secretariat, based in Addis Ababa,
  5. The Peace and Security Council (PSC) – Responsible for conflict prevention, management, and resolution,
  6. The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) – A legislative advisory body based in Midrand, South Africa,
  7. The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR) – Based in Arusha, Tanzania,
  8. The Economic, Social & Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) – An advisory organ for civil society,
  9. The Specialized Technical Committees (STCs) – Ministerial committees by sector, e.g., agriculture, finance, health.

 Institutions & Specialized Agencies

  •   Africa CDC (Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • AUDA-NEPAD (African Union Development Agency)
  • African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights
  • African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM)
  • Various training institutes, observatories, and technical offices across Africa.

 Membership & Decision-Making

  •  Members: All 55 internationally recognized African states.
  •  Decision-Making: By consensus or, failing that, by a two-thirds majority of the relevant organ.

Legal Foundation and Official Languages:

Legal Foundation: The Constitutive Act of the African Union, adopted in Lomé, Togo, on 11 July 2000, and entered into force on 26 May 2001.

Official Languages: Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Kiswahili (added in 2022).

Website: https://au.int