An intergovernmental organization, the African Union, Addis Ababa, was formed in 2001. It is composed of 53 African states. The declaration for the establishment of African Union (AU) was made on 9th September, 1999 by the Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity (OAU).
The main objectives of African Union, Addis Ababa are:
- Promotion of unity and solidarity among the people of Africa
- Promotion of international cooperation within the framework of the United Nations
- Development of the society, economy and culture of the African States.
- Safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of member states
- Acceleration of the political and socio-economic integration of Africa
- Promotion of democratic principles and institutions
- Raise the living standards of the people of Africa
- Promotion of peace, security, and stability
- Promotion of research in the fields of science and technology
- Protection of human rights in accordance with the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.
- Promotion of good health
Given below are the various organs of African Union:
- The Assembly: It is the supreme organ of the AU.
- The Executive Council: It is responsible to the Assembly.
- The Permanent Representatives' Committee: It allocates work to the Executive Council.
- The Commission: It is composed of eight Commissioners and Staff members and a Deputy Chairperson.
- Pan-African Parliament: It ensures full participation of the people of Africa in the development, governance and economic integration of the continent.
- Peace and Security Council (PSC): It was established in 2001.
- ECOSOCC (The Economic, Social and Cultural Council): It is an advisory organ that is made up of professional and social groups of the member states of the African Union.
- The Court of Justice: It will look after the human rights in Africa.
- The Financial Institutions: It is composed of the African Investment Bank, the African Central Bank and the African Monetary Fund.
- The Specialized Technical Committees: It is made up of the Committee on Trade, Customs and Immigration Matters, the Committee on
- Rural Economy and Agricultural Matters; the Committee on Education, Culture and Human Resources, the Committee on Monetary and Financial Affairs; the Committee on Transport, Communications and Tourism;the Committee
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on Industry, Science and Technology, Energy, Natural Resources and Environment and the Committee on Health, Labor and Social Affairs.
The 53 member states of African Union are:
- Algeria
- Zimbabwe
- Swaziland
- Republic of the Congo
- Cote d'Ivoire
- Ethiopia
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Angola
- Nigeria
- Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
- Benin
- Lesotho
- Seychelles
- Tunisia
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Mali
- Cape Verde
- Libya
- Central African Republic
- Mauritania
- Chad
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Zambia
- Burkina Faso
- Equatorial Guinea
- Rwanda
- Kenya
- Eritrea
- Gabon
- South Africa
- Mozambique
- Gambia
- Botswana
- Sudan
- Ghana
- Sierra Leone
- Guinea
- Togo
- Niger
- Guinea-Bissau
- Liberia
- Madagascar
- Comoros
- Mauritius
- Namibia
- Senegal
- Tanzania
- Uganda
- Somalia
- Malawi
For further information, one can contact at:
African Union Headquarters
PO Box 3243
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Tel: (251) 11 551 77 00
Fax: (251) 11 551 78 44
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