The advent of the African Union (AU) can be described as an event of great magnitude in the institutional evolution of the continent.
On 9.9.1999, the Heads of State and Government of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) issued a Declaration (the Sirte Declaration) calling for the establishment of an African Union.
The OAU initiatives paved the way for the birth of AU. The Durban Summit in 2002 launched the AU and convened the 1st Assembly of the Heads of States of the African Union. Now AU headquaters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The Objectives of the AU
To achieve greater unity and solidarity between the African countries and the peoples of Africa;
To defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of its Member States;
To accelerate the political and socio-economic integration of the continent;
To promote and defend African common positions on issues of interest to the continent and its peoples;
To encourage international cooperation, taking due account of the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
To promote peace, security, and stability on the continent;
To promote democratic principles and institutions, popular participation and good governance;
To promote and protect human and peoples' rights in accordance with the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and other relevant human rights instruments;
To establish the necessary conditions which enable the continent to play its rightful role in the global economy and in international negotiations; To promote sustainable development at the economic, social and cultural levels as well as the integration of African economies;
To promote co-operation in all fields of human activity to raise the living standards of African peoples;