| Organisation | African Union |
| Alternate Name | Union Africaine |
| Abbreviation | AU |
| Parent | |
| u.r.l. | http://www.africa-union.org/ |
| webmaster@africa-union.org | |
| Country | Ethiopia |
| Location | Addis Ababa |
| Address | African Union Headquarters,, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Addis Ababa |
| Postal Address | African Union Headquarters, P.O. Box 3243, Addis Ababa - Ethiopia |
| Telephone | (251) 11 551 77 00 |
| Management u.r.l. | www.africa-;union.org |
| Fax | (251) 11 551 78 44 |
| Sector | African Union |
| Organisation Type | African Multilateral |
| Status | |
| Stated Role | The AU is Africa's premier institution and principal organization for the promotion of accelerated socio-economic integration of the continent, which will lead to greater unity and solidarity between African countries and peoples.<P>The AU is based on the common vision of a united and strong Africa and on the need to build a partnership between governments and all segments of civil society, in particular women, youth and the private sector, in order to strengthen solidarity and cohesion amongst the peoples of Africa.<P>As a continental organization it focuses on the promotion of peace, security and stability on the continent as a prerequisite for the implementation of the development and integration agenda of the Union.<P> |
| Activities | |
| Geographical Focus | |
| Notes | African Commission is the Secretariat of the African Union, composed of ten commissioners and supporting staff and headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In a similar fashion to its European counterpart, the European Commission, it is responsible for the administration and co-ordination of the AU's activities and meetings. [ Retrieved on 28-12-06 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Union ] African Union The African Union (abbreviated AU) is an international organisation consisting of 53 African member states. Founded in July 2002, the AU was formed as a successor to the amalgamated African Economic Community (AEC) and the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). Eventually, the AU aims to have a single currency and a single integrated defence force, as well as other institutions of state, including a cabinet for the AU Head of State. The purpose of the organisation is to help secure Africa's democracy, human rights and a sustainable economy, especially by bringing an end to intra-African conflict and creating an effective common market. Overview The AU is governed by the Assembly of the African Union and the Pan-African Parliament, which are both assisted by the Commission which constitutes both the secretariat and executive body of the union. The As of 2006 Chairman of the Assembly, and therefore the de facto head of state of Africa, is Denis Sassou-Nguesso , president of Congo-Brazzaville . The current President of the Parliament is Gertrude Mongella. The current Chairman of the Commission, Alpha Oumar Konaré, and leads the Commission, which itself constitutes the Secretariat of the AU. The AU covers the entire continent except for Morocco, which opposes the membership of Western Sahara as the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. However, Morocco has a special status within the AU and benefits from the services available to all AU states from the institutions of the AU, such as the African Development Bank. Moroccan delegates also participate at important AU functions, and negotiations continue to try to resolve the conflict with the Saharawi Republic. The AU's first military intervention in a member state was the May 2003 deployment of a peacekeeping force of soldiers from South Africa, Ethiopia and Mozambique to Burundi to oversee the implementation of the various agreements. AU troops are also deployed in Sudan for peacekeeping in the Darfur conflict. Origins and history The African Union originated in the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was established on May 25, 1963. Critics argued that the OAU did little to protect the rights and liberties of African citizens from their own political leaders, often dubbing it "The Dictators Club". The idea of an , separate from the OAU began with the vision of a " United States of Africa " of Libya n leader Muammar al-Qaddafi , who, frustrated by developments in the Arab world , has in recent years largely given up his long-held ideology of Arab nationalism and Pan-Arabism , even publicly forsaking his identity as an Arab . The heads of state and heads of government of the OAU issued the Sirte Declaration on September 9 , 1999 , calling for the establishment of an African Union. The Sirte Declaration was followed by summits at Lomé in 2000, when the Constitutive Act of the was adopted, and at Lusaka in 2001, when the plan for the implementation of the was adopted. The was launched in Durban on July 9 , 2002 , by its first president, South Africa n Thabo Mbeki , at the first session of the Assembly of the African Union. The second session of the Assembly was in Maputo in 2003, and the third session in Addis Ababa on July 6 , 2004 . Its Constitutive Act declares that it shall "invite and encourage the full participation of the African diaspora as an important part of our Continent, in the building of the African Union." The has defined the African diaspora as "[consisting] of people of African origin living outside the continent, irrespective of their citizenship and nationality and who are willing to contribute to the development of the continent and the building of the African Union." Membership The AU has 53 members, covering almost the entire continent of Africa. AU Summits Durban (South Africa): 9-11 Jul. 2002. Maputo (Mozambique): 10-11 Jul. 2003. Sirte (Libya), extraordinary summit: Feb. 2004. Addis Ababa (Ethiopia): 6-8 Jul. 2004. Abuja (Nigeria): 24-31 Jan. 2005. Sirte (Libya): 28 Jun. - 5 Jul. 2005. Khartoum (Sudan): 16-24 Jan. 2006. Source: Wikipedia – the free encyclopedia [ Source: Wikipedia – the free encyclopedia - Retrieved on 27-12-06 - http://ar_932.ar.flyingstartnewsupdate.info/en/African%20Union ] The Commission" means the Secretariat of the Union. 1. There shall be established a Commission of the Union, which shall be the Secretariat of the Union. 2. The Commission shall be composed of the Chairman, his or her deputy or deputies and the Commissioners. They shall be assisted by the necessary staff for the smooth functioning of the Commission. 3. The structure, functions and regulations of the Commission shall be determined by the Assembly [ Retrieved on 27-11-06 - http://www.africa-;union.org/root/au/organs/The_Commission_en.htm ] The Commission of the African Union can now focus on three vital documents to discharge the mandate entrusted to it: the first of the three documents deals with the Vision of the African Union and the Mission of the African Union Commission; the second concerns the 2004-2007 Strategic Framework of the African Union Commission, while the third document contains the Action Plans of the various Departments of the Commission. The three documents are intended to structure a programme for the period 2004-2007 which the Commission will submit to the Policy Organs of the Organization in July 2004. [ Retrieved on 02-08-06 - http://www.africa-;union.org/root/au/AboutAu/vision_mission.htm ] Strategic Plan of the Commission of the African Union: Volume 3: 2004-2007 Plan of Action: Programmes to Speed Up Integration of the Continent. [ May 2004 ] The 2004-2007 Strategic Framework of the African Union Commission [ May 2004 - http://www.africa-;union.org/root/au/AboutAu/Vision/volume2.pdf ] The Strategic Plan of the African Union Commission: Volume 1: The Vision of the African Union and the Mission of the African Union [ May 2004 ] [ May 2004 ] |
| Current Positions | |||
| Position | Name | From | To |
| Deputy Chairperson AU Commission | H.E. Patrick Mazimhaka | 2003 | |
| Permanent Representative of Niger to the AU | H E Diamballa Maimouna | 2005 | |
| Chairman of AU Commission | Dr Jean Ping | 2008 | |
| Chairman | Jakaya Kikwete | 2008 | |
| AU Commissioner for Peace & Security | Lamtane Lamamra | 2008 | |
| Budgets | ||||
| Donor | From | To | Budget ($) | Note |
| Links to Related Organisations |
| Parent Tree |
| Sibling Organisations |
| Associated Organisations | FES African Media Barometer |
| Donor Recipients | AU - Anti-Corruption Convention |
| Africa Leadership Forum |
| Past Positions | |||
| Position | Name | From | To |
| Chairperson AU Commission | Amara Essy | 2002 | 2003 |
| Secretary General OAU - Acting | Kifle Wodajo - Ethiopia | 1963 | 1964 |
| Secretary General OAU | Telli Diallo | 1964 | 1972 |
| Secretary General OAU | Nzo Ekangaki - Cameroon | 1972 | 1974 |
| Secretary General OAU | William Eteki - Cameroon | 1974 | 1978 |
| Secretary General OAU | Edem Kodjo - Togo | 1978 | 1983 |
| Secretary General OAU - Acting | Peter Onu - Nigeria | 1983 | 1985 |
| Secretary General OAU | Ide Oumarou - Nigeria | 1985 | 1989 |
| Secretary General OAU | Dr Salim Salim | 1989 | 2001 |
| Editor of the Charter for Cooperation, Economic Independence & Development | Abdoulaye Wade | 1973 | 1973 |
| Member of the Group of African Heads of State mediating for the Central African Republic | Alpha Konare | 1996 | 1996 |
| Chairman of AU Commission | Alpha Konare | 2003 | 2008 |
| Secretary-General of Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union | Amara Essy | 2001 | 2002 |
| Interim Chairman of the Commission of the African Union | Amara Essy | 2002 | 2003 |
| Chairman | John Kufour | 2007 | 2008 |
| 1st Vice President | Major General Paul Kagame | 2003 | 2004 |
| OAU Assistant Secretary General in Charge of Political Affairs | Ambassador Said Djinnit | 1999 | 2002 |
| Director of Cabinet of the Secretary General of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) | Ambassador Said Djinnit | 1989 | 1999 |
| Chairman of the Organisation of African Unity | Denis Sassou-Nguesso | 1986 | 1987 |
| Deputy Director of Cabinet | Tens Kapoma | 1986 | 1990 |
| Record last updated on 10 SEP 2008 |