the implementation of this new concept, was created
at the onset. On one hand there were those countries which believed in
the immediate unity of Africa. These countries were originally Ghana,
Guinea, and Mali. Later on Egypt, the Transitional Government of
Algeria, and Morocco, joined the Ghana-Guinea-Mali Union to form the
Casablanca Group. On the other hand, the twenty-four member Monrovia
Group, otherwise known as the Conservatives, which included Nigeria,
Liberia, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Togo, and many others believed
in a much more gradual approach to the question of African Unity. Many
believed that the rift between the two groups would become permanent and
thus ending the hopes and dreams of African Unity.
Yet, in May 1963, these two opposing groups were able to
come together to form the Organization of African Unity. Many had
speculated as to how such opposing groups would merge to form the OAU.
Some have suggested that all the independent states that came together
in Addis Ababa, did so because of the great respect they had for Emperor
Haile Selassie. Others have managed to feed the public, through various
mediums, with similar unfounded stories as to how the OAU was formed.
Even those who have genuine
interest in telling the story have not been successful in
their endeavors, because it is impossible to tell the story of the
creation of the OAU with just a paragraph or two.
OAU1963
The historical foundations of the African
Union originated in the
Union of African
States, an early
confederation
that was established by
Kwame Nkrumah
in the 1960s, as well as subsequent attempts to unite Africa, including
the
Organization of
African Unity (OAU), which was established on
May 25,
1963,
and the
African Economic
Community in 1981.
Critics argued that the OAU in particular did little to protect the
rights and liberties of African citizens from their own political
leaders, often dubbing it the "Dictators' Club"
The idea of creating the AU was revived
in the mid-1990s under the leadership of Libyan head of state
Muammar
al-Qaddafi: the heads of state and government
of the OAU issued the
Sirte Declaration
(named after Sirte, in Libya) on
September 9,
1999,
calling for the establishment of an African Union. The Declaration was
followed by summits at
Lomé
in 2000, when the
Constitutive Act
of the African Union was adopted, and at
Lusaka
in 2001, when the plan for the implementation of the African Union was
adopted. During the same period, the initiative for the establishment of
the
New Partnership
for Africa's Development
(NEPAD) was also established.
The African Union was launched in
Durban
on
July 9,
2002.
We, Heads of State and Government of the Member States of
the Organization of African Unity (OAU): INSPIRED
by the noble ideals which guided the founding fathers of our Continental
Organization and generations of Pan-Africanists in their determination
to promote unity, solidarity, cohesion and cooperation among the peoples
of Africa and African States; CONSIDERING the principles and
objectives stated in the Charter of the Organization of African Unity
and the Treaty establishing the African Economic Community;
RECALLING the heroic
struggles waged by our peoples and our countries for political
independence, human dignity and economic emancipation;
CONSIDERING that since
its inception, the Organization of African Unity has played a
determining and invaluable role in the liberation of the continent, the
affirmation of a common identity and the process of attainment of the
unity of our continent and has provided a unique framework for our
collective action in Africa and in our relations with the rest of the
world.
DETERMINED to take up the
multifaceted challenges that confront our continent and peoples in the
light of the social, economic and political changes taking place in the
world;
CONVINCED of the need to
accelerate the process of implementing the Treaty establishing the
African Economic Community in order to promote the socio-economic
development of Africa and to face more effectively the challenges posed
by globalization;
GUIDED by our common
vision of a united and strong Africa and by the need to build a
partnership between governments and all segments of civil society, in
particular women, youth and the private sector, in order to strengthen
solidarity and cohesion among our peoples;
CONSCIOUS of the fact
that the scourge of conflicts in Africa constitutes a major impediment
to the socio-economic development of the continent and of the need to
promote peace, security and stability as a prerequisite for the
implementation of our development and integration agenda;
DETERMINED to promote and
protect human and peoples' rights, consolidate democratic institutions
and culture, and to ensure good governance and the rule of law;
FURTHER DETERMINED to
take all necessary measures to strengthen our common institutions and
provide them with the necessary powers and resources to enable them
discharge their respective mandates effectively; RECALLING the
Declaration which we adopted at the Fourth Extraordinary Session of our
Assembly in Sirte, the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya,
on 9.9. 99, in which we decided to establish an African Union, in
conformity with the ultimate objectives of the Charter of our
Continental Organization and the Treaty establishing the African
Economic Community…
AU
20002?
After half decade of existence, African Union has yet to
show to the world and Africans in particular what it has achieved to
justify the replacement of OAU, which according to critics, was not
practical. To this date, AU, like its predecessor, has not been able to
solve any of the numerous problems ranging from HIV/AIDS epidemic, civil
conflicts, poverty, illiteracy, and many social and economic problems
that are confronting Africa.
"We recognise that Africa's interests would be best
served through economic and political integration," AFP news agency
quotes Lesotho's Prime Minister Bethuel Pakalitha Mosisil as saying. But
critics quickly move in to wonder what have these economic and political
integrations such as regional economic communities have achieved?
United States of Africa: What are the prospects?
Some African students from various backgrounds though
have different views on how to approach the issue, have all agreed to
one government as the ultimate solution to Africa’s numerous problems.
Some African students based in the US believe United States of Africa
will produce a strong, united, and industrious Africa. “The first thing
the leaders of Africa need to do right now is end the conflict in Sudan;
begin reducing their powers- and begin a road network throughout
Africa,” say Joseph Ouzel, a Ghanaian born naturalized US citizen
majoring in computer science at Old Dominion University in Norfolk,
Virginia.
Although most Africans are poor, our continent is
potentially extremely rich. Our mineral resources, which are being
exploited with foreign capital only to enrich foreign investors, range
from gold and diamonds to uranium and petroleum. Our forests contain
some of the finest woods to be grown anywhere. Our cash crops include
cocoa, coffee, rubber, tobacco and cotton.
As for power, which is an important factor in any
economic development, Africa contains over 40% of the potential water
power of the world, as compared with about 10% in Europe and 13% in
North America. Yet so far, less than 1% has been developed. This is one
of the reasons why we have in Africa the paradox of poverty in the midst
of plenty, and scarcity in the midst of abundance. And this is why the
need for a one government must be embraced by all Africans.
One government in Africa will put and end to rebel
incursions in Africa as these incursions are supported by other African
leaders infiltrated by external forces.
Explaining his vision in his 1961 book, I Speak of
Freedom, Nkrumah wrote:
'Divided we are weak; united, Africa could become one of the greatest
forces for good in the world. I believe strongly and sincerely that with
the deep-rooted wisdom and dignity, the innate respect for human lives,
the intense humanity that is our heritage, the African race, united
under one federal government, will emerge not as just another world bloc
to flaunt its wealth and strength, but as a Great Power whose greatness
is indestructible because it is built not on fear, envy and suspicion,
nor won at the expense of others, but founded on hope, trust, friendship
