Organs o.a.u

Ref. Books:              Ibiyemi Oyeneye et.al Round up Government for Senior Secondary Certificate, Longman 2006 pp. 256-8

Resource Material:Textbook, Chart, Internet e.t.c

Lesson Objectives:  By the end of the lesson, the students should be able to

1. Define African Union
2. List its aims and objectives

• State its organs

1. Account for the achievement and failures of the African Union

Building materials: The students are already exposed to OAU

Content

The African Union was established to succeed the OAU

1. Economic well-being of African countries
2. Political integration of Africa

This took series of conferences held in sirte, Libya in 1999 to establish an African union. The Lome summit 2000 and the Lusaka declaration 2001 and the Durban, South Africa 2002 under the chairmanship of Thabo Mbeki launched the AU and convened the First Assembly of the Heads of States of the African Union.

Aims and Objectives of the African Union

1. Its focus is on peace, security and stability in Africa
2. To achieve African Unity and Solidarity
3. To defend the sovereignty of member states.
4. To promote international co-operation
5. To promote good health through co-operation with International bodies.

Organs of the African Union

1. The Assembly: it is the supreme organ of the union. Members are AU heads of states or their representatives.
2. The Executive Council: It is responsible to the African Union Assembly and composed of Ministers. They prepare the budget and publish reports.
3. The commission is composed of the chairperson, the Deputy, eight commissioners and staff members
4. Peace and Security Council: This council adjudicates on disputes and takes measures to resolve disputes.
5. Pan African Parliament: It is to express ECOSOC: This is the Economic Social and Cultural Council set up to promote economic integration, social cohesion and cultural activities.

Achievements of the AU

1. Peer interference in the internal affairs of members states.
2. Proposed common passport and currency for the continent come 2056 A.D
3. They see to the successful independence of southern Sudan from her northern counterpart.
4. Existence of the court of Justice
5. Existence of Peace and Security council coupled with existence of permanent representatives which was absent in OAU

Failures of the AU

1. Tenacity of Office of Sit-tight leaders like Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe since 1980 in office and late Libyan leader Moumar Gaddafi that was killed in 2011 insurrection in the region.
2. The continent is still plagued with insurgency by the Islamic militats in Somalia, Mogadishu, Central African Republic, Mali, Nigeria, Cameroun, Chad and Niger as well.
3. The continent is still under huge debt burden by the IMF and the World Bank as agents of under-development.
4. No standing Army to fight her course or implement major decisions. They still rely on United Nations peace keepers and the USA for assistance. Thanks to China that volunteered 800 soldiers as African Permanent peace makers last month.
5. The continent is still plague with political instability as witnessed in Burkina Faso last month and in Mali 2013 coupled with African Refugees crises that followed this aftermath as witnessed in Burundi over failed third term Agenda bid by the Incumbent President Uhuru Ceasar. And Xenophobic attack in South Africa of other African Nationals in recent months. Judging by the evidence before me, the AU is a toothless bulldog