Organization of 54 African Countries Forms African Union
The African Union is one of the world's most important intergovernmental
organizations. It is composed of 53 countries in Africa and is loosely
based on the European Union.
These African countries work diplomatically with each other despite
differences in geography, history, race, language, and religion to try
to improve the political, economic, and social situations for the
approximately one billion people that live on the African continent. The
African Union promises to protect Africa's rich cultures, some of which
have existed for thousands of years.
African Union Membership
The
The OAU - The Precursor to the African Union
The
African Union was formed after the dissolution of the Organization of
African Unity (OAU) in 2002. 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. It also wanted to promote
peaceful solutions to conflicts, ensure sovereignty forever, and raise
living standards. However, the OAU was largely criticized from the
beginning. Some countries still had deep ties to its colonial masters.
Many countries associated themselves with the ideologies of either the
United States
or the
Soviet Union during the height of the
Cold War.Although
the OAU gave weapons to rebels and was successful in eliminating
colonization, it could not eliminate the massive poverty problem. Its
leaders were seen as corrupt and unconcerned for the welfare of the
common people. Many civil wars occurred and the OAU could not intervene.
In 1984, Morocco left the OAU because it opposed the membership of
Western Sahara. In 1994, South Africa joined the OAU after the fall of
apartheid.
The African Union is Founded
Years later, Libya's
leader Muammar Gaddafi, a strong proponent of African unity, encouraged
the revival and improvement of the organization. After several
conventions, the African Union was formed in 2002. The headquarters of
the African Union are in
Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia. Its official languages are English, French, Arabic, and
Portuguese, but many documents are also printed in Swahili and local
languages. The leaders of the African Union work together to promote
health, education, peace, democracy,
human rights, and economic success.
Three AU Administrative Bodies
The
heads of state of each member country form the AU Assembly. These
leaders meet semi-annually to discuss the budget and major goals of
peace and development. The current leader of the African Union Assembly
is Bingu Wa Mutharika, the President of Malawi. The AU Parliament is the
legislative body of the African Enion and is composed of 265 officials
who represent the common people of Africa. Its seat is in Midrand,
South Africa. The African Court of Justice works to ensure that human rights for all Africans are respected.
The Improvement of Human Life in Africa
The
African Union strives to improve every aspect of government and human
life on the continent. Its leaders try to improve educational and career
opportunities for ordinary citizens. It works to get healthy food, safe
water, and adequate housing to the poor, especially in times of
disaster. It studies the causes of these problems, like famine, drought,
crime, and war. Africa has a high population that suffers from diseases
like HIV, AIDS, and malaria, so the African Union tries to give
treatment to the afflicted and provide education to prevent the spread
of these diseases.
The Improvement of Government, Finances, and Infrastructure
The
African Union supports agricultural projects. It works to improve
transportation and communication and promotes scientific, technological,
industrial, and environmental advancement. Financial practices like
free trade, customs unions, and
central banks
are planned. Tourism and immigration is promoted, as well as better
uses of energy and the protection of Africa's precious natural resources
such as gold. Environmental problems like desertification are studied,
and Africa's livestock resources are aided.
The Improvement of Security
A
major goal of the African Union is to encourage the collective defense,
security, and stability of its members. The African Union's democratic
principles have gradually reduced corruption and unfair elections. It
tries to prevent conflicts between member nations and solve any disputes
that do arise quickly and peacefully. The African Union can grant
sanctions on disobedient states and withhold economic and social
benefits. It does not tolerate inhumane acts such as genocide, war
crimes, and terrorism.The African Union can intervene militarily and
has sent peacekeeping troops to alleviate political and social disorder
in places like Darfur (Sudan), Somalia, Burundi, and Comoros. However,
some of these missions have been criticized as being too underfunded,
undermanned, and untrained. A few nations, like Niger, Mauritania, and
Madagascar have been suspended from the organization after political
events like cout d'etats.
Foreign Relations of the African Union
The African Union works closely with diplomats from the United States, European Union, and
United Nations.
It receives aid from countries around the world to deliver on its
promises of peace and health for all Africans. The African Union
realizes that its member nations must unite and cooperate to compete in
the world's increasingly
globalized economy and
foreign relations. It hopes to have a
single currency, like the
euro,
by 2023. An African Union passport may exist one day. In the future,
the African Union hopes to benefit people of African origin living
throughout the world.
African Union Struggles Linger
The African
Union has improved stability and welfare, but it does have its
challenges. Poverty is still a tremendous problem. The organization is
deeply in debt and many consider some of its leaders to still be
corrupt. Morocco's tension with
Western Sahara
continues to strain the entire organization. However, several smaller
multi-state organizations exist in Africa, like the East African
Community and the
Economic Community of West African States, so the
African Union can study how successful these smaller regional organizations have been in combating poverty and political strife.
Conclusion
In
conclusion, the African Union comprises all but one of Africa's
countries. Its goal of integration has fostered one identity and has
enhanced the political, economic, and social climate of the continent,
thereby giving hundreds of millions of people a healthier and more
successful future.
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