African Union (AU): 55 Members, Headquarters, and Core Functions

African Union is a major organization that brings together all the countries on the continent of Africa. Think of it as a huge team of African nations working toward common goals. It is a continental body made up of 55 member states. The main job of the African Union is to promote unity, keep peace, and speed up economic growth across Africa.

This organization replaced a previous group called the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). The AU was officially launched in 2002. Its vision is simple yet powerful: An Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.

African Union Overview

African Union is a continental organization that brings together all 55 African countries to promote unity, peace, and development. Below is an overview of its key features and structure.

African Union Established

The formation of the African Union was not a sudden event. It was the result of a long process that started many years ago. It grew from the dream of African leaders who wanted a free and united continent.

The Origin: Organisation of African Unity (OAU)

The story begins with the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). This group was founded on May 25, 1963. Thirty-two independent African states came together and signed the OAU Charter in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The OAU was focused on two main goals:

1. To end colonialism and apartheid from the continent. Apartheid was the cruel system of racial segregation in South Africa.

2. To promote unity and cooperation among the newly independent African states.

The OAU did a lot of great work. It helped to get rid of colonialism and white minority rule in Africa. However, the OAU had a policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of its member states. This meant it often could not stop civil wars or human rights violations within countries.

From OAU to AU: The Sirte Declaration

By the late 1990s, African leaders felt that a new, stronger organization was needed. They wanted an organization that could focus more on economic and political integration, much like the European Union.

The idea to create the African Union was strongly pushed by Muammar al-Gaddafi, the head of Libya at the time. On September 9, 1999, the Heads of State and Government of the OAU met in Sirte, Libya. They issued a resolution called the Sirte Declaration, which officially called for the establishment of the African Union.

In the year 2000, at the Lomé Summit in Togo, the leaders adopted the Constitutive Act of the African Union. This Act is the main legal document that sets the rules and framework for the new organization.

The Launch of the African Union

The African Union was formally established on May 26, 2001, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It was officially launched on July 9, 2002, in Durban, South Africa.

The very first person to lead the newly formed AU, known as the Chairperson of the Assembly, was the former President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki.

African Union Countries

One of the most common questions is: how many countries are members of African Union. The African Union currently has 55 member states. This number represents all the internationally recognized countries on the African continent.

All these countries are divided into five main geographic regions:

1. Northern Africa

2. Western Africa

3. Central Africa

4. Eastern Africa

5. Southern Africa

Morocco, which had left the OAU in 1984 due to a dispute over the membership of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (Western Sahara), rejoined the AU in 2017.

Temporary Suspension of African Union Members

The AU has a strong rule against military takeovers of power (coups d'état). If the government of an African Union country is removed by force (like a military coup), the AU can temporarily suspend that country's membership. This means the country’s leaders cannot take part in AU meetings until democracy is restored. This action shows the AU’s commitment to promoting democratic principles and good governance.

The Mission of the African Union

The African Union has much wider goals than its predecessor, the OAU. Its mission goes beyond just politics and includes a strong focus on economic and social development.

What is the African Union and What Does It Do?

The main aims of the African Union are laid out in its Constitutive Act. The AU and its different bodies work every day to achieve these goals:

• Promote Peace and Security: The AU works hard to prevent and settle conflicts in Africa. It has a special group called the Peace and Security Council and even has a plan to form an African Standby Force, which is a peacekeeping military, police, and civilian unit.

• Encourage Unity and Solidarity: The AU aims to bring the African Union countries closer together and encourage a feeling of togetherness among all African people.

• Accelerate Integration: This means pushing for the political and economic connection of the continent. The goal is to make Africa one large, strong market, like a single economy.

• Defend Sovereignty: The AU works to protect the independence and borders of all its African Union members.

• Promote Democracy and Human Rights: The Union seeks to ensure that all Africans have human rights and that countries follow democratic principles and good governance.

Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want

To make sure its goals are met, the AU created a long-term plan called Agenda 2063. This is a strategic plan that aims to transform Africa into a global powerhouse by the year 2063. It is a vision for an Africa that is peaceful, prosperous, and fully integrated.

The Working Structure of the African Union

The African Union is an organization with several important parts, or organs, that work together to make decisions and carry out the Union's plans.

African Union Headquarters and The Commission

The main administrative center, or African Union Headquarters, is located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The most important working body is the African Union Commission (AUC).

• Role: The Commission is the official secretariat and administrative arm of the Union. It is responsible for carrying out the day-to-day management of the AU and implementing the decisions made by the Heads of State.

• Leadership: It is led by a Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, and eight Commissioners. Each Commissioner is in charge of a specific area like Peace and Security, Political Affairs, or Economic Affairs.

The Assembly of the African Union

The Assembly is the highest decision-making body of the entire Union.

• Composition: It is made up of all the Heads of State or Government from the African Union countries.

• Function: They meet twice a year to determine the common policies, establish the priorities of the Union, and approve the budget.

• African Union President: The person who chairs the Assembly is called the Chairperson of the Assembly of the African Union. This position rotates every year among the leaders of the member states.

The Peace and Security Council (PSC)

This council is a smaller, dedicated body with the crucial job of maintaining peace and security across the continent.

• Role: The PSC is responsible for:

• Preventing and managing conflicts in Africa.

• Carrying out peacekeeping and peace-building work.

• Responding to crises and humanitarian disasters.

The Pan-African Parliament (PAP)

The Pan-African Parliament is designed to be the voice of the African people. It is a representative body that encourages ordinary African citizens and civil society groups to take part in the AU’s activities and decision-making.

Key Initiatives for an Integrated Africa

The African Union has launched several major projects to achieve its goal of a fully integrated and prosperous continent. These initiatives aim to connect countries and create opportunities for citizens.

1. African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA): This is one of the biggest and most important projects. It aims to create a single, continental market of about 1.3 billion people. The goal is to boost trade between African countries and strengthen Africa's position in global trade. By lowering trade barriers, it makes it easier for goods and services to move across the continent.

2. The African Passport and Free Movement: A key project is to remove restrictions on Africans traveling, working, and living within their own continent. The idea is to promote a single African Passport to enhance the free movement of citizens in all African Union countries.

3. African Standby Force (ASF): This is a plan to have a continental, multidisciplinary peacekeeping force ready for deployment in times of crisis in Africa. It is a sign of Africa taking responsibility for its own security.