AFRICA UNIONAFRICA UNION

The The African UnionAfrican Union (abbreviated  (abbreviated AUAU in English,  in English, and and UAUA in its other official languages) is a union  in its other official languages) is a union

consisting of 54 African states. The only all-consisting of 54 African states. The only all-African state not in the AU is moroco. African state not in the AU is moroco.

Established on 9 July 2002, the AU was formed Established on 9 July 2002, the AU was formed as a successor to the Organisation of African as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). The most important decisions of Unity (OAU). The most important decisions of

the AU are made by the Assembly of the African the AU are made by the Assembly of the African states, a semi-annual meeting of the heads of states, a semi-annual meeting of the heads of

state and government of its member states. The state and government of its member states. The AU's secretariat, the African Union Commission, AU's secretariat, the African Union Commission,

is based in Addis Ababa Ethiopia is based in Addis Ababa Ethiopia

GeographyGeography

• Member states of the African Union cover almost the Member states of the African Union cover almost the entirety of continental Africa and several off-shore entirety of continental Africa and several off-shore islands. Consequently, the geography of the African islands. Consequently, the geography of the African Union is wildly diverse, including the world's largest Union is wildly diverse, including the world's largest hot desert (the Sahara), huge jungles and savannas, hot desert (the Sahara), huge jungles and savannas, and the world's longest river (the Nile).and the world's longest river (the Nile).

• The AU presently has an area of 29,922,059 km² The AU presently has an area of 29,922,059 km² (18,592,705 mi²), with 24,165 km (15,015 mi) of (18,592,705 mi²), with 24,165 km (15,015 mi) of coastline. The vast majority of this area is on coastline. The vast majority of this area is on continental Africa, while the only significant territory continental Africa, while the only significant territory off the mainland is the island of Madagascar (the off the mainland is the island of Madagascar (the world's fourth largest), accounting for slightly less world's fourth largest), accounting for slightly less than 2% of the total.than 2% of the total.

OBJECTIVES OF A UOBJECTIVES OF A U

• Among the objectives of the AU's leading institutions are:Among the objectives of the AU's leading institutions are:• to accelerate the political and socio-economic integration of the to accelerate the political and socio-economic integration of the

continent;continent;• to promote and defend African common positions on issues of to promote and defend African common positions on issues of

interest to the continent and its peoples;interest to the continent and its peoples;• to achieve peace and security in Africa; andto achieve peace and security in Africa; and• to promote democratic institutions, good governance and human to promote democratic institutions, good governance and human

rightsrights• The African Union is made up of both political and administrative The African Union is made up of both political and administrative

bodies. The highest decision-making organ is the Assembly of the bodies. The highest decision-making organ is the Assembly of the African Union, made up of all the heads of state or government of African Union, made up of all the heads of state or government of member states of the AU. The Assembly is chaired by Yayi Boni, member states of the AU. The Assembly is chaired by Yayi Boni, president of Benin, elected at the 18thordinary meeting of the president of Benin, elected at the 18thordinary meeting of the Assembly in January 2012. The AU also has a representative body, Assembly in January 2012. The AU also has a representative body, the Pan African Parliament, which consists of 265 members the Pan African Parliament, which consists of 265 members elected by the national parliaments of the AU member states. Its elected by the national parliaments of the AU member states. Its president is Dr IdrissNdele Moussapresident is Dr IdrissNdele Moussa

Financial institutionsFinancial institutions

• African Central Bank – Abuja, NigeriaAfrican Central Bank – Abuja, Nigeria

• African Investment Bank – Tripoli, LibyaAfrican Investment Bank – Tripoli, Libya

• African Monetary African Monetary Fund – Yaoundé, Cameroon.Fund – Yaoundé, Cameroon.

• These institutions have not yet been These institutions have not yet been established, however, the Steering established, however, the Steering Committees working on their founding Committees working on their founding have been constituted. Eventually, the AU have been constituted. Eventually, the AU aims to have a single currency (theAfro).aims to have a single currency (theAfro).

HEADQUARTERSHEADQUARTERS

• The African Union's new headquarters complex in Addis The African Union's new headquarters complex in Addis Ababa.Ababa.

• The main administrative capital of the African Union is The main administrative capital of the African Union is in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where the African Union Commission is headquartered. A new headquarters Commission is headquartered. A new headquarters complex, the AU Conference Center and Office Complex complex, the AU Conference Center and Office Complex (AUCC), was inaugurated on 28th January 2012, during the (AUCC), was inaugurated on 28th January 2012, during the 18th AU summit.The complex was built by China State 18th AU summit.The complex was built by China State Construction Engineering Corporation as a gift from Construction Engineering Corporation as a gift from the Chinese government, and accommodates, amongst the Chinese government, and accommodates, amongst other facilities, a 2,500-seat plenary hall and a 20-story other facilities, a 2,500-seat plenary hall and a 20-story office tower. The tower is 99.9 meters high to signify the office tower. The tower is 99.9 meters high to signify the date 9th September 1999, when the Organization of African date 9th September 1999, when the Organization of African Unity voted to become the African Union.]Unity voted to become the African Union.]

HISTORY OF AUHISTORY OF AU

• The historical foundations of the African Union The historical foundations of the African Union originated in the Union of African States, an originated in the Union of African States, an early confederation that was established early confederation that was established by by Kwame NkrumahKwame Nkrumah in the 1960s, as well as  in the 1960s, as well as subsequent attempts to unite Africa, including subsequent attempts to unite Africa, including the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was established on 25 May 1963, and the African was established on 25 May 1963, and the African Economic Community in 1981. Critics argued that Economic Community in 1981. Critics argued that the OAU in particular did little to protect the the OAU in particular did little to protect the rights and liberties of African citizens from their rights and liberties of African citizens from their own political leaders, often dubbing it the own political leaders, often dubbing it the "Dictators' Club"."Dictators' Club".

Revival of AURevival of AU

• The idea of creating the AU was revived in the mid-1990s The idea of creating the AU was revived in the mid-1990s under the leadership of Libyan head of state Muammar al-under the leadership of Libyan head of state Muammar al-Gaddafi: the heads of state and government of the OAU Gaddafi: the heads of state and government of the OAU issued the Sirte Declaration (named after Sirte, in Libya) on 9 issued the Sirte Declaration (named after Sirte, in Libya) on 9 September 1999, calling for the establishment of an African September 1999, calling for the establishment of an African Union. The Declaration was followed by summits at Lomé in Union. The Declaration was followed by summits at Lomé in 2000, when the Constitutive Act of the African Union was 2000, when the Constitutive Act of the African Union was adopted, and at Lusaka in 2001, when the plan for the adopted, and at Lusaka in 2001, when the plan for the implementation of the African Union was adopted. During the implementation of the African Union was adopted. During the same period, the initiative for the establishment of the New same period, the initiative for the establishment of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), was also Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), was also established.established.

• The African Union was launched in Durban on 9 July 2002, by The African Union was launched in Durban on 9 July 2002, by its first chairperson, South African Thabo Mbeki, at the first its first chairperson, South African Thabo Mbeki, at the first session of the Assembly of the African Union. The second session of the Assembly of the African Union. The second session of the Assembly was in Maputo in 2003, and the third session of the Assembly was in Maputo in 2003, and the third session in Addis Ababa on 6 July 2004.session in Addis Ababa on 6 July 2004.

REGIONAL BLOCKSREGIONAL BLOCKS

• the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA)the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA)• the Common Market for Eastern and Southern the Common Market for Eastern and Southern

Africa (COMESA)Africa (COMESA)• the Community of Sahel-Saharan States(CEN-SAD)the Community of Sahel-Saharan States(CEN-SAD)• the East African Community (EAC)the East African Community (EAC)• the Economic Community of Central African the Economic Community of Central African

States (ECCAS)States (ECCAS)• the Economic Community of West African the Economic Community of West African

States (ECOWAS)States (ECOWAS)• the Intergovernmental Authority on the Intergovernmental Authority on

Development (IGAD)Development (IGAD)• the Southern Africa Development the Southern Africa Development

Community (SADC)Community (SADC)

Foreign policyForeign policy

• The individual member states of the African Union The individual member states of the African Union coordinate foreign policy through this agency, in addition to coordinate foreign policy through this agency, in addition to conducting their owninternational relations on a state-by-conducting their owninternational relations on a state-by-state basis. The AU represents the interests of African state basis. The AU represents the interests of African peoples at large in intergovernmental organisations (IGOs); peoples at large in intergovernmental organisations (IGOs); for instance, it is a permanent observer at the United for instance, it is a permanent observer at the United Nations General Assembly. Both the African Union and the Nations General Assembly. Both the African Union and the United Nations work in tandem to address issues of United Nations work in tandem to address issues of common concerns in various areas. The African Union common concerns in various areas. The African Union Mission in United Nations aspires to serve as a bridge Mission in United Nations aspires to serve as a bridge between the two Organisations.between the two Organisations.

• Membership of the AU overlaps with other IGOs and Membership of the AU overlaps with other IGOs and occasionally these third-party organisations and the AU will occasionally these third-party organisations and the AU will coordinate matters of public policy. The African Union coordinate matters of public policy. The African Union maintains special diplomatic representation with the United maintains special diplomatic representation with the United States and the European Union.States and the European Union.

Current issuesCurrent issues

• The AU faces many challenges, including The AU faces many challenges, including health issues such as combating malaria and health issues such as combating malaria and theAIDS/HIV epidemic; political issues such theAIDS/HIV epidemic; political issues such as confronting undemocratic regimes and as confronting undemocratic regimes and mediating in the many civil wars; economic mediating in the many civil wars; economic issues such as improving the standard of issues such as improving the standard of living of millions of impoverished, living of millions of impoverished, uneducated Africans; ecological issues such uneducated Africans; ecological issues such as dealing with recurring as dealing with recurring famines,desertification, and lack of famines,desertification, and lack of ecological sustainability; as well as ecological sustainability; as well as the legal issues regarding Western Sahara. the legal issues regarding Western Sahara.

AU LEADERSHIPAU LEADERSHIP

• Chairpersons of the African UnionNameBeginning of Chairpersons of the African UnionNameBeginning of termEnd of termCountrytermEnd of termCountryThabo Mbeki 9 July 200210 July Thabo Mbeki 9 July 200210 July 2003  South Africa Joaquim Chissano10 July 2003 6 July 2003  South Africa Joaquim Chissano10 July 2003 6 July 2004  Mozambique Olusegun Obasanjo 6 July 2004 24 2004  Mozambique Olusegun Obasanjo 6 July 2004 24 January 2006  Nigeria Denis Sassou-Nguesso 24 January January 2006  Nigeria Denis Sassou-Nguesso 24 January 200624 January 2007  Republic of the Congo John Kufuor 30 200624 January 2007  Republic of the Congo John Kufuor 30 January 200731 January 2008  Ghana Jakaya Kikwete 31 January 200731 January 2008  Ghana Jakaya Kikwete 31 January 2008 2 February 2009  Tanzania Muammar al-January 2008 2 February 2009  Tanzania Muammar al-Gaddafi 2 February 200931 January 2010Gaddafi 2 February 200931 January 2010  Libya Bingu wa  Libya Bingu wa Mutharika  January 201031 January 2011  Malawi Teodoro Mutharika  January 201031 January 2011  Malawi Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo 31 January 2011 29 January 2012 Obiang Nguema Mbasogo 31 January 2011 29 January 2012  Equatorial GuineaYayi Boni 29 January 2012 Incumbent  Equatorial GuineaYayi Boni 29 January 2012 Incumbent  Benin Benin