Why aga about the african governance architecture aga. Constitutive act means the treaty establishing the african union. The main organs of the eac are the summit, the council of ministers, the coordinating committee, the sectoral committees, the east african court of justice, the east african legislative assembly and the secretariat. Strengthening popular participation in the african union. Understanding the african union and its governance agenda. To what extent are the organs of the african union au properly designed to meet the major challenges facing the continent. The bloc was founded on 26 may 2001 in addis ababa, ethiopia, and launched on 9 july 2002 in durban, south africa.
Its predecessor was the organization for african unity oauestablished in 1963. The organisation of african unity oau was disbanded on 9 july 2002 by its last chairperson, south african president thabo mbeki, and replaced by the african union au. With its 54 member states, the au is the worlds largest and most diverse regional organisation in terms of member income levels, populations and geographic features. Africas challenges and the role of the african union. The union of south africa is the historical predecessor to the presentday republic of south africa. The transition from the organisation of african unity to the african union the african union. Additionally, the african union recognizes the sahrawi arab democratic republic, which is a portion of western sahara. This paper explores some of the founding principles of the african union au and the frameworks devised to implement them. The organisation of african unity oau, established on 25 may 1963, was the culmination of a number of diverse and farreaching historical currents and political trends both on the african continent and abroad. It looks at various doctrinal and practical issues pertaining to either. The african union is governed by organs as per article 5 of the constitutive act of.
Pdf to what extent are the organs of the african union. April 14, 2020 statement of the african union au labour migration advisory committee lmac on the novel coronavirus disease covid19 and the condition of african migrant workers. Lessons for the future of the african union baba schalk department of public administration and management. Why a political economy study of the african union. The african union commission agenda 2063 the africa we want. The assembly is the african unions aus supreme organ and comprises heads of state and. The african union by makaria green the african union au was established on july 8, 2001. It is my pleasure to begin a new tradition of the outgoing assembly chairperson introducing the book each year. Takes note of the annual report on the activities of the african union and its organs for the period january december 2017, and the observations and comments made by member states. The african commission on human and peoples rights, in existence since 1986, is established under the african charter on human and peoples rights the african charter rather than the constitutive act of the african union. He is the author of a study of the african union s right of intervention against genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes forthcoming 2011.
The african union succeeded the old organization for african unity oau in 2002. Competent authority means any person who lawfully acts on behalf of the chairperson or the head of another unions organ. In july 1999, the assembly of heads of state and government of the. Successes and challenges as the successor to the organisation of african unity oua, which was created in 1963 to eliminate the last vestiges of colonialism in africa, the african union au came into existence in july 2002 at the durban heads of state summit with the more focused goal of propelling african. Considering the constitutive act of the african union and the treaty establishing the african economic community, as well as the charter of the united nations. Protocol relating to the establishment of the peace and security council of the african union we, the heads of state and government of the member states of the african union. A pdf version of this book is available on the au website. It is the next highest policy organ of the union after the au summit. The constitutive act of the african union envisages a multiplicity of continental human rights organs, including the african court on human and peoples rights the court. Structure and organs of the african union the assembly, executive council and commission. The african union was carved out of a previously existing organisation called the organisation of african unity oau. All contributions in the form of case studies, comments and updates on the issues included in this guide are greatly appreciated. The african union au is the continental champion on political cooperation and economic integration in africa.
African centre for the study and research on terrorism. African union and its governance agenda african governance architecture and the charter for democracy elections and good governance by faten aggad and philomena apiko this background paper is part of a series on the political economy dynamics of regional organisations pedro. They set the goals and rules of the community and discuss plans for the future. The charter that created the oau was the result of several multinational african conferences held in the 1950s and 1960s aimed at supporting africans. The 15 african trade and economic organizations plus the african union have memberships that overlap considerably figure 3. The vision articulated by several generations of african leaders is an integrated continent with free movement of people, goods, capital, and. The oau was formed in 1963 when many african leaders wanted to accelerate the process of european decolonization and gain independence for a number of new nations. The pap exercises oversight, and has advisory and consultative powers, lasting for the first five years. No one can dare to have a fullfledged figure of the his.
The african governance architecture aga is inspired by the constitutive act of the african union au that expresses the aus determination to promote and protect human and peoples rights, consolidate democratic institutions and. The handbook focuses on the aus current structures and organs. Notably, the 4th aspiration of agenda 2063, which is the african union s strategic framework for socioeconomic transformation of. In analyzing the african unions prospects to improve the peace and secu. Since then, the new institution has struggled to reform governing bodies inherited from the oau while shouldering.
It is also a key priority for the african union under the new partnership for africa s development, agenda 2063, and the recs. The african union was formed after the dissolution of the organization of african unity oau in 2002. We also have the african commission on human and peoples rights in banjul, where people go and speak out and take on governments. Jul 22, 20 the creation of the african union as a new pan african body is not a sudden happening that has not been anticipated in the african history. Following this event, a decision declaring the establishment of the african union, based on. The african union au is a continental union consisting of 55 member states located on the continent of africa. Apr 29, 2019 the pan african parliament pap, also known as the african parliament, is the legislative body of the african union and held its inaugural session in march 2004.
The assembly is the supreme organ of the african union composed of heads of states and governments. April 09, 2020 communique of the bureau of the specialized technical committee on education science and technology of the african union. African union intergovernmental organization, africa. Structure and organs of the african union the assembly. Director acsrst also special representative of the african union chairperson for counterterrorism cooperation. Structure and organs of the african union the assembly, executive. The oau was established on 25 may 1963 in addis ababa, on signature of the oau charter by representatives of 32 governments. The development objective of the support for capacity development of the african union commission and other african union organs project for africa is to strengthen the aucs capacity to facilitate regional integration results and transformation through. Organs of the african union wikimili, the free encyclopedia. The history and development of the african union panorama. The launch of the african union au is a major event in the contemporary history of the continent. The african union handbook app is published by the african union commission auc in partnership with the new zealand government. Au policy organs the policy organs in order of hierarchy are the summit heads of states and government, the executive council. April, 2020 chinese ambassador meets the deputy chairperson over the attack on africans in china.
They further called on african union organs to assist with advocacy and sensitisation of african governments. Aims and objectives of organisation of african unity oau to promote the unity and solidarity of african states. Organisation of african unity oau south african history. Against this backdrop, the african union au has taken three landmark decisions1, ultimately leading to the establishment of the femwise africa network of african women in conflict. It is the premier african human rights body, with responsibility for monitoring and promoting compliance with the african. It was rather a result of the ageold process of pan african movements in different courses of history. Structure and organs of the african union the assembly, executive council and commission published on 01 jan 2012 by brill nijhoff. South sudan is the newest member of the african union, joining on july 28, 2011, less than three weeks. The creation of the african union as a new pan african body is not a sudden happening that has not been anticipated in the african history. African union on behalf of african union heads of state and government, welcome to the 2018 edition of the african union handbook. African union au, intergovernmental organization, established in 2002, to promote unity and solidarity of african states, to spur economic development, and to promote international cooperation. The economic community of west african states, known as ecowas, is a union formed by most of the countries in west africa. The heads of state or government get together at least twice a year.
For the purposes of security sector reform, african union includes the assembly, the peace and security council, the au commission and all other relevant organs of the african union. Aunacdp african union nonaggression and common defence pact. The au was announced in the sirte declaration in sirte, libya, on 9 september 1999, calling for the establishment of the african union. He is the author of a study of the african unions right of intervention against genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes forthcoming 2011. African union strategic plan 20042007 one year ago in libya, 53 heads of states agreed to ratify and accede to all oau and au treaties by july 2010. Implications for regional integration in the context of continental structures by ayesha kajee introduction more than two years have elapsed since the birth of the newlook african union au, during which time several of the major organs mandated by the au have come into. The year 2017 is one in which we saw our member states focus on what unites us, how africa. The african union is governed by organs as per article 5 of the constitutive act of the african union. Every six months a different country serves as president of the union. The african union is governed by organs as per article 5 of the constitutive act of the. A pdf version of this book is available on the websites above. Pdf the role of the african union in continental peace. Agenda 2063 the africa we want first tenyear implementation. It meets once in a year in ordinary session, and it can meet in extraordinary session at the request of any member state that has to be approved by a twothird majority of the member states.
Introduction to the norms and institutions of the african union. Answers i promote democratic principles and institutions,popular participation and good governance. It is intended as a ready reference guide for people working in all parts of the au system member states, government officials, commission and other staff as well as the aus many partners and wider civil society. The economic community of west african states ecowas is a regional organisation of 15 west african countries established on 28 may 1975.
Indeed, ecowas is one the five regional pillars of the african economic community aec. And whatever we do now as a union, we dont just involve our regional economic communities, but all the organs of the union, like the pan african parliament, which represents the voice of the people. Its main goal is the promotion of the economic integration among its members. Specialised technical committees of the african union. Transition from the oau to the african union background the highlight of the 2000 oauaec assembly of heads of state and government in lome, togo was the adoption of the constitutive act of the african union, in terms of the sirte. In this policy, africa, the african continent, the continent or continental. Pdf to what extent are the organs of the african union au. African union constitutive act au peace and security.
African union commission support for capacity development. April 09, 2020 communique of the bureau of the african union au executive council teleconference meeting held on thursday, 9 april 2020. Au careers is african union commision main vacancy application portal, in order to be able to apply for a position all potential applicants will need to create a php database record where they will enter among others your personal information, current and previous education and employment details. Commends the chairperson of the commission for the comprehensiveness of. The african union, or au, includes every independent african country except morocco. As the successor to the organisation of african unity oua, which was created in 1963 to eliminate the last vestiges of colonialism in africa, the african union au came into existence in july 2002 at the durban heads of state summit with the more focused goal of propelling african states towards peace and prosperity as the basis for achieving the ultimate goal of political and economic. Some features of this site may not work without it. The african union au replaced the organization of african unity oau.
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