African Union (AU)
| Section | Details |
|---|---|
| Introduction | – The African Union (AU) is a continental organization established in 2002 as a successor to the Organization of African Unity (OAU). – It comprises 55 African countries and aims to promote unity, peace, and socio-economic development across the continent. |
| Objectives | – Unity and Solidarity: Foster cohesion among African countries and peoples. – Defend Sovereignty: Safeguard territorial integrity and independence. – Accelerate Integration: Enhance Africa’s global standing through integration. – Promote Peace: Create conditions for sustainable development. – Uphold Democracy: Encourage democratic principles, governance, and human rights. |
| Members (Dec 2024) | – The AU consists of 55 member states, representing all countries on the African continent. |
| Reports/Indices | – African Integration Report: Reviews integration efforts and offers policy recommendations. – Africa Regional Integration Index (ARII): Assesses integration across trade, infrastructure, and movement. – Agenda 2063 Progress Reports: Tracks progress toward long-term goals. – African Governance Report: Evaluates governance trends and challenges. – African Economic Outlook: Provides economic analyses and policy insights. – Africa Sustainable Development Report: Tracks SDG progress. – African Statistical Yearbook: Compiles data on social, economic, and environmental indicators. – African Gender Scorecard: Evaluates gender equality across member states. – African Youth Report: Focuses on youth issues like education and employment. – African Trade Report: Analyzes intra-African and international trade trends. |
| Instruments | – Constitutive Act of the AU: Foundational legal framework. – African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights: Promotes and protects human rights. – African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance: Encourages democratic principles. – Protocol on the Establishment of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights: Judicial mechanism for rights protection. – Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community (Abuja Treaty): Outlines plans for an integrated economic community. |
| Structure | – Assembly of the Union: Comprises Heads of State and Government; the supreme decision-making body. – Executive Council: Consists of ministers coordinating policies of common interest. – Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC): Prepares work for the Executive Council. – Commission of the African Union: The AU’s secretariat; implements decisions. – Peace and Security Council (PSC): Maintains peace and security. |
| Subsidiary Organs | – Pan-African Parliament (PAP): Ensures full participation of African peoples in governance. – African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights: Protects human rights across the continent. – Economic, Social, and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC): Engages civil society organizations in AU policies. – African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights: Promotes human rights across Africa. |
| Committees | – Specialized Technical Committees (STCs): Focus on agriculture, trade, health, and other sectors. – Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC): Supports policy formulation. – Committee of Ten on UNSC Reform: Advocates for African representation in the United Nations Security Council. |
| Initiatives | – Agenda 2063: A strategic framework for Africa’s socio-economic transformation. – African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA): Creates a single market for goods and services. – Silencing the Guns by 2030: Aims to end wars and conflicts. – Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP): Improves food security and agricultural growth. – Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA): Focuses on infrastructure development. – Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM): Liberalizes air transport for improved connectivity. – African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM): Promotes good governance and socio-economic development. – African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD): Coordinates sustainable development programs. – African Risk Capacity (ARC): Provides financial tools for disaster risk management. – African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (AVATT): Secures vaccines for the continent. – African Space Policy and Strategy: Harnesses space technology for socio-economic benefits. – African Union Youth Volunteer Corps (AU-YVC): Engages youth in development initiatives. – African Continental Qualifications Framework (ACQF): Facilitates recognition of qualifications across member states. – AU Climate Change Strategy: Addresses climate change and promotes resilience. – African Union Passport: Facilitates free movement of people, goods, and services. |
