By the end of the topic, learners should be able to:
Outline the origins of the OAU.
State the aims of the OAU.
Describe the functions of the OAU.
Explain the achievements and failures of the OAU.
Discuss the promotion and protection of human rights by the OAU.
The background of the Organisation of African Unity (O.A.U)
The Organisation of African Union was formed on the 25th of May in 1963 at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia by 32 African States.
The formation of O.A.U was a way of bringing together independent states to form an Inter-African organisation.
The Independence of the States such as Ghana in 1957 brought about progress in uniting Africans.
The idea behind the formation of OAU was to unite Africans to fight against colonialism.
All Africans are now independent except for Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in North-West Africa.
In 2001 the organisation changed to African Union (AU).
Africans were bitter due to slavery.
Millions were captured and sold to America to work in plantations of tobacco and sugar without pay.
They became Africans of Negros and diaspora and they did not forget their roots and they kept ties with their mother country.
Countries which colonised Africa are namely:
Britain
France
Germany
Spain
Italy
Belgium
Colonialism brought about exploitation, oppression and racial discrimination against the Africans.
Africans were eager to free themselves from the white oppression.
The sufferings led to the development of Pan-Africanism.
Pan-Africanism
Pan-Africanism was established due to African's desire in North America to reconnect with African brothers in the African continent.
The idea of Pan-Africa was to bring about Africans together to fight for freedom, self-determination and equality.
What does Pan-Africanism teach?
Africans must unite in a single unit.
All Africans have cultural unity.
All Africans are the same.
All African states were colonized and people were captured for slavery.
Africans should liberate themselves.
Europe and America have developed due to African's raw materials and labour.
Pan-Africanist ideas were developed by Africans who were slaves in America and the Caribbean.
They formed this union in order to fight against the oppression, exploitation, forms of discrimination and unequal opportunities.
There are black Americans who participated in spreading the Pan-Africanist movement.
Henry Silvester Williams
He was from Trinidad in the West Indies.
He was the first person to champion the Pan Africanist ideas.
He influenced African Chiefs in Britain to fight against colonialism.
He called the conference and that Is how the term Pan- Africanist was brought about.
Marcus Garvey
He was a black Jamaican.
He advocated for Africans to return home.
He formed the Universal Negro Improvement Association.
He encouraged Africans to start their own companies.
Dr William Du Bois
He had Pan Africanist ideas and he was the father of Pan Africanism.
His ideas were to encourage and unite all Africans to fight against colonial rule.
He had socialist ideas to equip African economies.
He wanted Africans to have societies were they regarded themselves equal despite race.
Formation of OAU
In Zimbabwe, Africa day is celebrated on the 25th of May.
Attempts were taken to form OAU and failed due economic problems, language and political differences.
In 1958, there was a discussion of African Independent states in Accra, the capital city of Ghana.
A Pan-African movement was formed by African independent states for East and Central Africa (PAF-MECA).
PAF-MECA was equipping political parties to fight for independence.
A charter was drafted by Ghana and Guinea to allow the union of African states.
Some political parties joined PAF-MECA in 1961 and the name changed to (PAF-MECSA).
Pan-african freedom movement for east and central africa
Pan- african freedom movement for east, central And southern africa.
The Casablanca group
It was led by Ghana and Algeria.
The group wanted Africa to be ruled by one Central government.
It highly favored the socialist ideas and federal system.
They wanted the government to be in control of the army, police and economic developments.
It was sponsored PAF-MECSA.
They did not want to associate with the west.
The Monrovia group
It was led by president William Tubman of Liberia.
They adopted a draft charter for an organization of inter-African and Malagasy states.
The group favored different associations of independent states.
They were friendly to west and colonial states as well as conservative.
Aims of the OAU
To promote unity and solidarity of the African countries.
To raise the standard of living for the Africans.
To defend African's sovereignty and their independence.
To grant all African human rights.
To fight against all forms of colonialism and gain independence in Africa.
Principles which guided the aims of the OAU
Equality to all member states.
Non-interference in the internal affairs of other states.
Condemnation of political assassination or any other activities likely to destroy political systems of African independent states.
Pursue the policy of non-alignment with regard to all blocks.
Disputes resolved peacefully by negotiation, meditation and reconciliation.
Organs of the OAU
The Assembly
The council of Ministries
General Secretariat
Commission on meditation , conciliation and arbitration.
Functions of the organs of the OAU
The Assembly
The assembly is the head of the state.
The government is the highest supreme organ of the OAU.
It consisted of the following people, the heads of state, government, presidents and prime ministers of all member states.
It met once a year and all decisions and polices were made by the assembly.
One vote for each member state.
Only two thirds majority votes were considered for decisions.
Functions of the Assembly
i. National budget ii. Policy making iii. Adopts resolutions iv. Decision makers
The Council of Ministries
It was made up of ministers of foreign affairs from member states.
The council reported back to the assembly for decision making.
The council of ministers met twice a year.
This organ returned back under the AU.
Each member state has one vote.
Resolutions were determined by the majority vote.
Functions of the Council of Ministries
Adopts budget.
Organise agenda for Assembly.
Makes recommendations.
Commission for meditation, conciliation and arbitration.
Economic and social co- operation.
Transport, education, health and science co- operation.
Cultural co-operation.
General secretary
The general secretary consisted of 5 permanent members namely China, France, Italy, Russia and United Kingdom.
General secretary was the head of the organ.
The General secretary was appointed by the Assembly.
The first secretary was Diallo Jelli Boubacar from Guinea.
The secretary general directed the affairs of the secretariat.
Functions of the General Secretary
Coordinating committees for the liberation of Africa.
Organizing meetings.
Prepares programs and budgets annually.
Keeps records of the organization.
Commission for mediation conciliation and arbitration of OAU
They were made up of 21 members who were elected by the Assembly.
Its function was to settle disputes peacefully.
It operated under the secretariat.
Coordinating committee for the liberation of Africa of OAU
Liberation committee was created in 1963.
Liberation committee headquarters were in Dar-es-Salaam and Tanzania.
Liberation committee was there to control the movements of weapons, equipment, travel documents, bases and money.
It helped the following parties:
ZANU and ZAPU (Zimbabwe)
PAIGC (Guinea Bissau)
FRELIMO (Mozambique)
SWAPO (Namibia)
ANC and PAC (South Africa)
MPLA (Angola)
Specialized commission
They include the following aspects:
The labour commission.
The scientific, cultural, educational and health commission.
The economic, social, transport and communications commission.
Achievements and failures of OAU
Achievements of OAU
OAU managed to fight against colonialism in Africa except for Saharawi Arab democratic republic.
Liberation committee distributed materials and supported African states with moral support.
Failures of OAU
OAU failed to suppress conflicts that rose in African states.
Africa was shaded with bloody coups in the following countries:
Uganda by Idi Amin in 1971, Nigeria by Sani Abacha, Ethiopia by Manguish Haile Mariam, Ghana by Jerry Rawlings and in Libya by Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.
They were external conflicts between Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 1995, Hutu and Tutsi in Rwanda in 1994.
Many people lost their lives during these conflicts.
OAU failed to prevent and end civil wars in Liberia (1989-1997), Eritrea in 1998 and Sierra Leone (1995-99).
OAU showed its weakness by not solving civil wars in Angola (1975-2002) between MPLA government and Jonas Savimbi Unita forces.
Civil war in Mozambique (1975-1994) between Alfonso Dhlakama's Mozambique National resistance (MNR or REMANO) and the FRELIMO government forces.
OAU failed to fulfill their aim of promoting unity and solidarity among African states.
The reason which made this aim not to be successful is the problems that were faced Africa.
Problems of Africa
Some countries were socialists and others were pro-capitalist so this led to different kinds of governments in Africa.
Countries like Guinea, Tanzania, Angola, and Mozambique were under socialists while some countries like Malawi, Kenya and Zaire (DRC) were countries which favoured capitalism.
African states were divided into multiparty states and one party state.
Some states were democratic like Botswana.
Nigeria was a military state and in 2003 Guinea became part of the military state.
Religious differences such as Christianity, African traditions, Islam, Hinduism and Judaism.
Multiparty states
one party state
Zimbabwe
Angola
Botswana
Malawi
Zaire
Human rights
Human rights are privileges that belong to every individual.
These are therefore rights inherent to all human beings.
Promotion of human rights
In 1981, the OAU established the African charter which introduced the African commission on human and people's rights.
Later in 1990, the charter furthered the African charter on the rights and welfare of the child (ACRWC).
The human rights were strengthened and protected by the establishment of African court on human and people's rights.
Human rights include:
All the people should be equal before the law.
Every individual has a right to vote.
Individual right to liberty and protection by law.
Individual right to work and receive educational and health facilities.
The obligation to states to guarantee the independence of the courts
The African Union (AU)
OAU managed to fulfil its purpose of ending colonisation in Africa.
Africans in diaspora wanted to fight for their freedom and human rights.
In 1994, South Africa gained its independence hence it marked the end of colonisation in Africa.
OAU was now old for addressing the African problems.
AU was formed to deal with the challenges facing Africa as a global village.
Background of African Union
Libyan leader and Colonel Muammar Gaddafi advocated for the formation African Union.
In 9 September 1999, OAU discussed on bringing AU on board.
President Gaddafi had his own ideas on the formation of AU.
He wanted a united states of Africa similar to the United States of America.
11 July 2000 OAU agreed to form AU at Lome, in Togo.
The assembly refused to form a united states of Africa which consisted of one army and a central government for Africa.
In July 2001, 53 members of OAU signed the constitution of AU at the Lusaka summit in Zambia.
The constitution was named the constitution act of the African Union and it binds all member states to its rules and procedures.
The launch of AU at Durban summit marked the end of AU after serving for 38 years.
AU was left to serve the African continent problems.
Problems affecting Africans
Neo-colonialism.
Terrorism (Al-Shabab and Boko Haram).
Human rights.
Droughts and epidemic diseases such as HIV/AIDS.
Social classes of rich and poor.
African representation in the United Nations.
Cooperation on developing economic in African states.
Climate change on national economies of Africa.
The spread of technology from north to south.
Unequal distribution of wealth in Africa (south and north countries).
Uni polar world spreading over instead of bipolar world.
Effects of globalisation and its influences on politics, economies and cultures of Africa.
Aims of the African Union
To promote unity and solidarity among African people and between African countries.
To create a defense on territorial integrity and independence of member state.
To protect common interests of the African continent.
To encourage international co-operation through the United Nations and the declaration of human rights.
To distribute the African wealth equally and help economic development.
To secure and stabilise African continent.
To eradicate poverty and diseases.
To raise the standard of living and working conditions.
To promote research in education, science and technology.
Organs of the African Union
The Assembly
It is the powerful and supreme organ of the AU.
The Assembly is formed up by the heads of state and the government.
It meets once in a year in an ordinary session but sometimes they meet up in an extra ordinary session if there are urgent matters.
The chairman is elected every year and the assembly is the one which chooses the chairman.
The government can be represented by the accredited officials.
Decisions and agreement are made on the two third majority votes.
The assembler's duties are to determine the policies and the reports of all AU organs.
It also monitors the implementation of the policies by the member state.
The assembly also deals with the national budget of the AU as well as it directs the executive council on matters arising.
The Assembly appoints its members such as the court of justice and chairman of the commission and determines the terms of their offices.
The Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs
It consists of ministers of foreign affairs of member states.
It meets twice in an ordinary session and anytime on extra ordinary session.
If their decisions are consensus they take the two third of majority.
The executive council policies are coordinated in the common area of member states interest such as:
Foreign trade.
Water resources and irrigation.
Transport and communication.
Education, culture, health and human resource management.
Science and technology.
Providing awards, medals and prizes.
Social security such as mother and child care policies.
Environmental protection and disaster relief.
Food, agriculture, forestry and animal resources.
Energy, industry and mineral resources.
Specialized technical committees
These committees refer to the executive council.
They are supervised on the projects and programs they prepare.
All progress being done is reported to the executive council.
They meet often to ensure success of their objectives.
They report matters such as:
Agriculture and economy in rural areas.
Financial and monetary.
Trade, customary and immigration.
Transport, communication and tourism.
Health, labour and social affairs.
The Pan-African parliament
All member state are represented on this organ.
The representation of all member states is to ensure that there is full participation of all African people in the continent.
It reports matters to the Executive Council such as the progress and challenges they face on projects.
The financial institutions
Financial institutions such as banks offer loans and raise capital for the projects done by the organs.
Union financial institution include :
The African monetary.
The African central bank.
The African investment bank.
The commission
The commission works as a secretary of the African Union.
It is made up of the chairman and the group of the commissioners.
They have a deputy who runs the commission organ smoothly.
It reports to the Assembly and this determines its structure, functions and regulations.
The permanent representatives committee
This organ has permanent representatives from the member states.
Their duty is to prepare the work and they carry on the instructions from the executive council.
It works with various sub groups of committee.
The economic, social and cultural council
This organ is controlled by the Assembly to determine their composition.
It is an advisory organ which consists of different professional and social groups of the member state in the AU.
Its duty is to improve standard of living of people, developing economies and promoting cultural exchanges in the African continent.
The challenges faced by the African Union
African union failed to promote democracy in Africa in countries such as Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and Ethiopia as it was its major aim.
Tourism is affecting Africa due to loss of lives in Sudan and Somalia.
Lack of financial resources to create a single army for protection and peace.
Uni-polar world affects African continent.
Diseases like HIV-Aids have destroyed many people in Africa.
Human rights are abused due to the expansion of the continent such as child labour, gender inequalities and sexual abuse.
Natural disasters such as drought and floods.
Lack of support from United Nations on conflicts in Africa.
An export of raw materials is cheap hence import of finished products is expensive on African states.
Environmental disasters such as air, water pollution and veld fires its affecting lives of people in Africa.
Unemployment.
Cultural degradation.
Oppression of an African girl child.
Poverty
Conditions imposed by donors and international institutions are making lives difficult for African people.
SUMMARY
The OAU (Organisation of African Unity) was formed in 1963 at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and later changed to AU (African Union) in 2001.
OAU was formed to fight against colonialism.
Member states of the OAU set up organs which dealt with different issues that affect them as Africans.
The organisation managed to end colonialism in Africa but however, there were still civil wars in some African states.
