Abstract
After reaching a consensus on the future of the Organization of the African Unity, the leaders of the member countries decided that the continent needed a fresh outlook and new methods to accomplish new objectives. The African Union was the proposed solution, and the new organization has proved itself to be the right first decision of African leaders toward a more prosperous future of the continent. However, there are still controversies about the efficacy of the organization, because it partially failed to provide the population with peace and safety, and the situation around health problems does not seem to have improved. Also, there are challenges regarding the unity within the organization – most leaders are more concerned with their personal goals. There are also issues with corruption, integration of democratic processes, and violent political regimes. Ensuring the organization’s financial independence could become an important first step toward more effective operations.
Despite being rich with natural resources and having strong economic potential, Africa is among the poorest regions of the earth, where mortality and illiteracy rates are high. To solve these and other persisting issues of the African countries, the states of the continent formed the African Union. This paper reviews the objectives of the union, its history, and some of the most significant issues the organization has faced.
Organization History
African Union is a regional international intergovernmental organization uniting 55 states of Africa. The objective reasons for the creation of the African Union, replacing the OAU – the most significant political association of countries on the African continent – were dramatic changes in the alignment of political forces in the world during its existence (1963–2001) (African Union, 2020). OAU had accomplished some of its most prioritized objectives. The problems of the modern economic development of African states required the search for new approaches and mechanisms.
The decision to create the African Union was taken at the OAU Extraordinary Summit in September 1999 in Sirte, Libya (African Union, 2020). It reflected the desire of African leaders for a higher level of unity than it was at the time of OAU. The heads of states of the continent approved the Constitutive Act of the African Union at the OAU summit in July 2000 in Lome (Togo) (Magliveras & Naldi, 2018). During the summit, the African Union was announced officially, and the announcement was received positively by the member states. At the 37th session of the OAU Assembly in the capital of Zambia, Lusaka, a package of documents was approved that defined the structure and legal framework of the new organization.
Main Objectives
The fact that the African Union will continue to work on OAU’s objectives, emphasized in the Constitutive Act, is expressed through the readiness of the governments of member countries to promote unity, solidarity, cohesion, and cooperation between peoples and governments of African countries. The main objectives of the union include the dialogue with the world community from a unified perspective and making decisions that will be able to respond to the challenges of economic globalization (Magliveras & Naldi, 2018). The union is also to protect the sovereignty, territorial integrity of member states, promoting peace, security, and stability on the continent, and effective resolution of regional conflicts.
The main difference between the new union and the OAU is that economic integration is proclaimed the main priority of the new organization. The OAU, however, considered political integration as the main task for taking collective measures to protect national independence and territorial integrity of young African states (Magliveras & Naldi, 2018). In world history, there are many examples of integration based on the convergence of economic interests, and this way seems most effective for solving the many problems of current Africa (Karbo & Murithi, 2017). The decision taken by the union to assist the development of integration processes, relying on the already existing political and administrative associations of the south and north of the continent, West and East Africa, means that the union will experience a long and hard road to achieving success.
One of the fundamental principles of the African Union’s activity is the respect for the state borders of the organization’s member states that existed at the time they gained independence. This is of particular relevance for the countries of the African continent, since the danger of possible local elites and transnational corporations inciting territorial disputes, interethnic conflicts, separatist sentiments, and organizing coups to control mineral deposits (especially in border regions) remains quite high (Karbo & Murithi, 2017). The military upsets in the Gambia, Zaire, Côte d’Ivoire, Niger, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and other countries that have influenced neighboring states are a vivid confirmation of the aforementioned.
The AU is intended to replace not only the OAU but also the African Economic Community (AEC), which was supposed to confront the negative aspects of globalization by promoting the socio-economic development of Africa (Karbo & Murithi, 2017). The definition of principles, goals, and development strategies of AEC persisted from 1976 to 1989 (Karbo & Murithi, 2017). The process of achieving economic integration within the AEC was designed for 34 years and consisted of six stages. The organization itself was created in 1991, but its activities did not bring significant practical results (Magliveras & Naldi, 2018). The revival of the idea of African unity, which was realized in the form of the creation of the African Union, went almost parallel with the development of the concept of the “African Renaissance,” proclaimed by South African President Thabo Mbeki (Magliveras & Naldi, 2018). The objectives of the revival, in addition to creating democratic political systems, were the successful fight against the AIDS pandemic, the restoration of African cultures, the promotion of artistic creativity, and access to advanced science and technology.
Primary Challenges Over the Years
A severe problem for the leadership of the union is the lack of financial resources. In October 2003, arrears in the payment of membership fees of 11 member countries of the organization amounted to $44 million, and they were deprived of the right to speak at meetings of the union (Magliveras & Naldi, 2018). Such a state of affairs makes the African Union dependent on external financing, restricts freedom of action, and directly affects its ability to carry out peacekeeping missions (Karbo & Murithi, 2017). For instance, after the refusal of African leaders to condemn the policies of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, the European Union froze the allocation of 250 million euros intended for the union’s peacekeeping activities.
The date of the inauguration of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, scheduled for January 31, 2004, was postponed to March 18, 2004 (African Union, 2020). The protocol defining its powers, functions, and composition, although unanimously adopted by the union members previously, was not enacted until March because it had not been ratified by half of the member countries. The protocol on the establishment of the Peace and Security Council, a body with broad powers and which is meant to help achieve stability in Africa, was also ratified later than planned (Karbo & Murithi, 2017). The process of creating an African court was also slow. Such delays testify to the reluctance of leaders of some African states, despite their formal support for the union’s course of actions, to restrain their personal interests.
Recent tensions between Morocco and SADR that started in 2017 show that some member countries prioritize their own interests much stronger than the organization’s overall objectives. The operation of the union was significantly disrupted because of the tensions (International Crisis Group, 2020). This situation questions the union’s power to supervise the activities of its member states properly. It has been more than a decade since the union was founded, but there were no real advancements in peace and security. For instance, the Central African Republic crisis, which was caused by the activities of arm groups only several years ago, jeopardizes the authority of the African Union as an entity that promotes peace and stability.
Current Issues and Perceived Efficacy
There are many issues the African Union is currently facing, but the most significant ones are related to health, ecological sustainability, military confrontations and peacekeeping, and economic stability. The population of the many regions of the continent is uneducated, and despite the union’s efforts, the situation does not seem to improve (Magliveras & Naldi, 2018). Malaria and HIV/AIDS also pose a significant threat to African communities, but there is no systematized framework for battling these issues (Magliveras & Naldi, 2018). In addition to these challenges, constant military confrontations caused by terrorist and other non-governmental and radical groups disturb the peace and pose a severe hindrance to sustainable economic and cultural development.
Despite the persistence of many challenges, the African Union has been effective in increasing cooperation between its member countries. This collaboration has ensured that the continent has a solid foundation for future economic, ecological, and socio-cultural projects. However, there are those who believe that the organization’s highly bureaucratic structure limits the union’s potential. Some people claim that the organization is nothing more than a talking shop, where there are more conversations than actions (The Economist, 2017).
In 2020, the African Union has the same issues that it had when the organization was founded. The union heavily depends on external financing, and recent tensions in negotiations with the UN over co-financing serve as proof (International Crisis Group, 2020). Also, the organization does not have enough power over its member states – presidents of some countries prefer violent strategies for maintaining power in their countries, and the union does not have any means to influence that (International Crisis Group, 2020). More than twenty countries will hold presidential or other elections in 2020, and the union should think about ways of containing violence during and after elections. Otherwise, conflicts between the opposition and current heads may result in bloodshed.
Conclusion
The African Union is the future of the African continent and has the potential to become as influential as the European Union. However, the organization should consider ways of becoming independent from external financing and means for preserving peace. Currently, the union suffers from the disturbance caused by armed conflicts, leaders that seek personal benefits rather than continental interests, and health and ecological issues in local communities.
References
African Union. (2020). About the African Union. Web.
International Crisis Group. Eight priorities for the African Union in 2020. Web.
Karbo, T., & Murithi, T. (Eds.). (2017). The African Union: Autocracy, diplomacy and peacebuilding in Africa. New York, NY: I.B. Tauris.
Magliveras, K. D., & Naldi, G. J. (2018). The African Union. Alphen aan den Rijn, Netherlands: Kluwer Law International BV.
The Economist. (2017). Talking shop: The African Union. Web.