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Government Notes

International Organization (O.A.U.)

CONTENT

  • Organization of African Unity (O.A.U.) Historical perspective
  • Aims and Objectives of O.A.U
  • Principles of O.A.U

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE OF O.A.U

The Organization of African Unity (O.A.U.) was formed on the May 25th, 1963 in Addis Ababa Ethiopia and has its headquarters there. The organization came into existence after a long debate as to how the continent of Africa should be reorganized and strengthened so that their independence could be attained and maintained and to eradicate all forms of colonialism in Africa. Before the formation of O.A.U, there were three main organizations which compromised to form the organization. The three groups were;

  1. Monrovia Group
  2. Casablanca Group
  3. Brazzaville Group
  1. Casablanca Group: This group was made up of Morocco, Ghana, Libya, Guinea, Algeria, United Arab Emirate, Mali and came into being on January 1961.
  2. Monrovia Group: This Group consisted of Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Tunisia, Somalia and Togo. This group met in Liberia on May 1960.
  3. Brazzaville Group: This group was made up of twelve member countries. These include Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, Chad, Congo, Dahomey, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Upper Volta, Madagascar, Niger and Senegal. This group adopted their declaration to join O.A.U. on December 13, 1960.

EVALUATION QUESTION

  1. Explain how O.A.U. was formed
  2. List 4 countries under the Monrovia group.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF O.A.U

The O.A.U formed in 1963 has 32 members with the following as its aims as provided in its charter.

  1. Promotion of Unity: One of the aims and objectives of O.A.U is to promote the unity and solidarity of African States.
  2. Living Condition: To coordinate and intensify their cooperation and effort to achieve a better life for the people of African States.
  3. Common Defense: Members agreed to defend their sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of African States.
  4. To eradicate all forms of colonialism in Africa
  5. Promotion of International Peace: Member States agreed to work with other organizations like U.N.O to promote international peace and Cooperation having due regard for U.N Charter and Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
  6. To promote peaceful resolution of conflicts among member states through negotiation, mediation, consultation and arbitration.
  7. United Front: To speak with one voice on World affairs so as to present a united front.
  8. To preserve the African personality, culture and tradition.

EVALUATION

  1. Mention five objectives of the O.A.U.
  2. How has O.A.U promoted unity in Nigeria?

PRINCIPLES OF O.A.U

The main principles for interaction among members state of O.A.U are:

  1. Sovereignty: All the members of O.A.U are sovereign and equal. No state should be under the control of any other state. 
  2. Non-interference in the internal affairs of other states.
  3. Respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of members states
  4. Peaceful settlement of dispute by negotiation, mediation, reconciliation or arbitration.
  5. Affirmation of the policy of non-alignment with regard to all blocs
  6. Resistance to all forms of political assassination and as well as subversion.
  7. Absolute dedication to the total emancipation of all African States.

ORGANS OF O.A.U

  1. Assembly of Heads of States and Government
  2. The Council of Ministers
  3. The General Secretariat
  4. The Commission for Mediation, Conciliation and Arbitration
  1. The Assembly of Heads of States and Government: The Assembly of heads of states and government is the supreme and most powerful organ of the organization. It is the highest decision making machinery of the Organization. This organ is made up of Heads of States of all member States. The organ meets once in a year but an extra-ordinary meeting can be convened if approved by two-third majority of its member States.

FUNCTIONS OF THE ASSEMBLY OF HEADS OF STATES AND GOVERNMENT

  1. Appointment of Secretary General: It is the function of the Assembly of Heads of States and Government to appoint Secretary General of the organization.
  2. Admission of New Members: The Assembly of Heads of States and Government decide on the admission of new members States into the organization.
  3. Amendment of the Charter: It is the duty of the Assembly of Heads of States to approve proposals for any amendment to the charter of the organization.
  4. Coordination of Policies: The Assembly of heads of State discusses issues of common interest to Africa so as to coordinate and harmonize the general policy of the organization.
  5. The body reviews the structures, functions and activities of all the organs and specialize agencies created by the organization.
  6. The organ also has the duty of looking into the problems of members states and helps to settle such problem.
  7. The body appoints ad-hoc committee to settle disputes involving member nations.     

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

The council consists of foreign affair Ministers of member States or such other ministers as may be determined by a member state. It prepares the agenda for the meeting of the Assembly of Heads of States and Government and implements the decision of the Assembly. It also prepares annual budget of the organization. The council meets twice a year but can hold extra-ordinary meeting if approved by two-third majority of member states.

FUNCTIONS OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

  1. The council prepares the agenda for the meeting of the Assembly of Heads of States and Government.
  2. The council approves the budget of the organization.
  3. It implements the decision of the Assembly
  4. The council makes recommendation to the Assembly for the appointment of Secretary General of the organization.
  5. The council recommends a new independent state to the Assembly for admission into the organization.
  6. The council is responsible to the Assembly and deals with all matters referred to it by the Assembly.
  7. The council is responsible for coordinating and harmonizing inter-African cooperation.
  8. It prepares the annual budget of the organization.

THE GENERAL SECRETARIAT

The General Secretariat is the administrative headquarters of O.A.U and it is located at the organization’s headquarters in Addis Ababa. The Secretariat is headed by the Secretary General, who is assisted by crops of Staff. The Secretary General is appointed by the Assembly of Heads of States and Government on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers for a period of three years subject to re-election.

FUNCTIONS OF THE GENERAL SECRETARIAT

  1. The General secretariat carries out all the administrative work of the organization.
  2. This body prepares programme or agenda for the meeting of the Council of Ministers.
  3. It supervises and executes the decisions of the Council of Ministers
  4. The secretariat prepares the annual report on the activities of the organization.
  5. The secretariat has the duty of circulating news to member states of the organization.
  6. It prepares the annual budget of the organization for the approval of the Council of Ministers.
  7. The Secretariat controls the finance of the organization
  8. The facilities needed for all meetings of the organization are provided by the secretariat.

THE COMMISSION FOR MEDIATION, CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION

This commission is responsible for the peaceful settlement of disputes between member states. It was set up in 1965 and has twenty members elected by the Assembly from a list submitted by the Secretary General. This commission sits at Addis Ababa in Ethiopia and it has a President, vice President and a registrar. In addition to this commission, O.A.U has other specialized agencies which carry out different functions and they include;

  1. The Economic and Social Commission
  2. The Educational and Cultural Commission
  3. Health Commission
  4. The Defense Commission
  5. Scientific, technical and Research Commission

EVALUATION

  1. State five functions of the Council of Minister of O.A.U
  2. Give five functions of the Secretary General of O.A.U


ACHIEVEMENTS OF O.A.U

The achievements of O.A.U include the following:

  1. Resolution of Conflict: The O.A.U facilitates peaceful resolution of conflicts among member states. Indeed it has encouraged the peaceful resolution of conflict among member states, such as Somalia and Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda etc.
  2. Eradication of Colonialism and Apartheid: The O.A.U played an important role in bringing colonialism and apartheid to an end in the continent. It did not only condemn them but also supported liberation movements in countries like Zimbabwe and Angola.
  3. Economic Cooperation: The O.A.U encourages economic cooperation among member states. The African Development Bank (A.D.B.) which renders assistance to member states is one of the economic initiatives of O.A.U.
  4. Promotion of African Culture: The O.A.U supports efforts to project African culture to the outside world. The Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC) is a point in time.
  5. Settlement of Refugees: O.A.U provides refuge for people displaced by war and environmental disaster. Such assistance includes provision of relief materials to the refugees.
  6. Common Voice: On some issues, the O.A.U has provided opportunity for common position at the international arena. Such issues like trade and disarmament has attracted common and uniform stand by African countries speaking through O.A.U.
  7. It provides African leaders forum for discussion on issue of importance to Africa and the entire world.
  8. O.A.U in collaboration with other international organization like U.N.O, has contributed to world peace and security.

EVALUATION

  1. Highlight 5 achievements of O.A.U
  2. How has O.A.U been able to settle dispute in Africa?

PROBLEMS OF O.A.U

  1. Financial Problem: One of the major problems facing O.A.U since its inception is financial problem. Activities of O.A.U have been impeded by insufficient fund. Some member states default in their contributions. This has over the years hindered the execution of many O.A.U resolutions.
  2. Political Instability: Constant change of leadership result in policy changes and this affects the degree of support for the organization’s decisions.
  3. Economic Dependence: Although members of the O.A.U are politically independent, economically, they are not free from external control and this forced them to depend on economically advanced nations. This economic dependence which is the aftermath of colonialism makes member states to dance to the tune of foreign nations at the expenses of O.A.U.
  4. External Influence: Many African countries are still attached to their formal colonial powers. Some times there is divided loyalty by the member nations to the O.A.U and their formal colonial masters.
  5. Lack of a Standing Army: The organization has no standing army since its 26th years of birth. The organization can not fight colonialism and apartheid because of this problem.
  6. Inter State Rivalry and Suspicion: Sometimes there is supremacy struggle between leaders and different motives are read to suggested proposals.
  7. Persistent Conflict: The frequent and recurrent wars and serious conflict between and within states shows that the organization has not been very effective in guaranteeing peace and security in the continent.
  8. Linguistic Problem: Language barrier tend to slow down any effective means of communication adopted by the organization this leads to its failure in so many ways.
  9. Religious Difference: Member-states of O.A.U belong to different religious beliefs and this has equally turned into two parallel lines that can never meet on any issue. This religious difference has also caused a lot of conflicts within and between member-states of the organization.
  10. Poverty: Most member states of O.A.U are very poor and they depend on foreign powers. Therefore, there is tendency for these African states to be more loyal to those foreign powers than the O.A.U itself.

EVALUATION QUESTION

Explain five problems facing O.A.U

GENERAL EVALUATION

1. Explain external control as one of the problems of O.A.U.

2. How has economic dependence hindered the success of O.A.U?

3. Identify the specialized agencies of O.A.U.

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

  1. Which of the following is not an aim of O.A.U? (a) Defense of the sovereignty and independence of African states (b) Enthronement of undemocratic government in Africa (c) Promotion of unity and solidarity in African states
  2. Nigeria belongs to all the following international organization except (a) European Union (b) United Nation Organization (c) Common Wealth of Nations
  3. The following are the problems of O.A.U except (a) economic dependence (b) political independence (c) political instability
  4. The organ of O.A.U that is responsible for the implementation of the decision of the Assembly of Heads of States is (a) the Council of Ministers (b) the Secretariat (c) the Economic Council
  5. The most powerful organ of O.A.U is (a) the Council of Ministers (b) the Assembly of Heads of States and Government (c) the General Secretary.

THEORY

  1. Describe the duty and functions of the General Secretariat.
  2. Give reasons why you think that the O.A.U has failed.

EVALUATION QUESTION

State 5 principles of O.A.U

GENERAL EVALUATION

  1. List 4 countries under Casablanca group
  2. List 4 countries under Monrovia group
  3. Mention the names of the countries that formed O.A.U.

READING ASSIGNMENT

International Organization

Comprehensive Government by J.U. Anyaele pages 215-216

Essential Government by C.C. Dibie pages 232-234

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

  1. O.A.U was formed in (a) 1963 (b) 1964 (c) 1960
  2. O.A.U has its headquarters in (a) Ghana (b) Ethiopia (c) Addis Ababa
  3. The following belong to the Casablanca group except (a) Egypt (b) Mali (c) Liberia
  4. O.A.U has ____ member states (a) 23 (b) 32 (c) 35
  5. Brazzaville declared their membership of O.A.U in

(a) Dec. 19, 1960 (b) Dec. 14, 1960 (c) Dec. 18, 1960

THEORY

  1. Mention the countries under the Casablanca group
  2. Account for the formation of O.A.U.

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