African Union

Continental union of African states

For the predecessor organisation, see Organisation of African Unity.

African Union

| (in other official languages)

Arabic | الاتحاد الأفريقي
Spanish | Unión Africana
French | Union africaine
Portuguese | União Africana
Swahili | Umoja wa Afrika

Flag

Motto: "A United and Strong Africa"
Anthem: "Let Us All Unite and Celebrate Together"[1]

Member states
Suspended states

Political centres|

* Addis Ababaa
* Johannesburgb

Largest urban agglomerations|

* Cairo
* Lagos

Official languages|

* Arabic
* English
* French
* Portuguese
* Spanish
* Swahili
* and any other African language[2][3]

Demonym(s)| African
Type| Continental union
Membership|

55 member states

* Algeria
* Angola
* Benin
* Botswana
* Burkina Faso[note 1]
* Burundi
* Cameroon
* Cape Verde
* Central African Republic
* Chad
* Comoros
* Democratic Republic of the Congo
* Republic of the Congo
* Djibouti
* Egypt
* Equatorial Guinea
* Eritrea
* Eswatini
* Ethiopia
* Gabon
* Gambia
* Ghana
* Guinea[note 1]
* Guinea-Bissau
* Ivory Coast
* Kenya
* Lesotho
* Liberia
* Libya
* Madagascar
* Malawi
* Mali[note 1]
* Mauritania
* Mauritius
* Morocco
* Mozambique
* Namibia
* Niger[note 1]
* Nigeria
* Rwanda
* Sahrawi Republic
* São Tomé and Príncipe
* Senegal
* Seychelles
* Sierra Leone
* Somalia
* South Africa
* South Sudan
* Sudan[note 1]
* Tanzania
* Togo
* Tunisia
* Uganda
* Zambia
* Zimbabwe

9 observer states

* Haiti
* Kazakhstan
* Latvia
* Mexico
* Palestine
* Serbia
* Turkey
* Ukraine
* United Arab Emirates

Leaders

• Chairperson

| João Lourenço

• Commission Chairperson

| Mahamoud Ali Youssouf

• Parliamentary President

| Fortune Z. Charumbira
Legislature| Pan-African Parliament
Establishment

• OAU Charter

| 25 May 1963

• Abuja Treaty

| 3 June 1991

• Sirte Declaration

| 9 September 1999

• African Union founded

| July 9, 2002; 23 years ago (2002-07-09)

• Admission of South Sudan

| 9 July 2011

• Admission of Morocco

| 31 January 2017

• African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

| 1 January 2021
Area

• Total

| 29,922,059[4] km2 (11,552,972 sq mi)
Population

• 2023 estimate

|  1,480,771,000[5]
GDP (PPP)| 2025 estimate

• Total

|  $10.380 trillion[6][note 2]

• Per capita

|  $7,370[7]
GDP (nominal)| 2025 estimate

• Total

|  $2.83 trillion[8][note 2]

• Per capita

|  $1,930[9]
HDI (2020)| 0.577
medium
Internet TLD| .africa

Website
au.int

* a Seat of the African Union Commission.
* b Seat of the Pan-African Parliament.

The African Union (AU) is a continental union of 55 member states[10][11] located on the continent of Africa. The AU was announced in the Sirte Declaration in Sirte, Libya, on 9 September 1999, calling for the establishment of the African Union. The bloc was launched on 9 July 2002 in Durban, South Africa.[12] The intention of the AU was to replace the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), established on 25 May 1963 in Addis Ababa by 32 signatory governments; the OAU was disbanded on 9 July 2002.[13] The most important decisions of the AU are made by the Assembly of the African Union, a semi-annual meeting of the heads of state and government of its member states.

The AU's secretariat, the African Union Commission, is based in Addis Ababa. The largest city in the AU is Lagos, Nigeria, while the largest urban agglomeration is Cairo, Egypt. The African Union has more than 1.3 billion people and an area of around 30 million km2 (12 million sq mi) and includes world landmarks such as the Sahara and the Nile.[14] The primary working languages are Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swahili.[2] Within the African Union, there are official bodies, such as the Peace and Security Council and the Pan-African Parliament.

At a G20 (Group of 20) meeting held in New Delhi, India, in 2023, the African Union was admitted as a member to the G20.[15]

## Overview

[edit]

The objectives of the African Union are:[16]

1. To achieve greater unity, cohesion and solidarity among the African countries and African nations.
2. To defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of its Member States.
3. To accelerate the political and social-economic integration of the continent.[17][18]
4. To promote and defend African common positions on issues of interest to the continent and its peoples.
5. To encourage international cooperation, taking due account of the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
6. To promote peace, security, and stability on the continent.
7. To promote democratic principles and institutions, popular participation and good governance.
8. 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.
9. To establish the necessary conditions which enable the continent to play its rightful role in the global economy and in international negotiations.
10. To promote sustainable development at the economic, social and cultural levels as well as the integration of African economies.
11. To promote co-operation in all fields of human activity to raise the living standards of African people.
12. To coordinate and harmonise the policies between the existing and future Regional Economic Communities for the gradual attainment of the objectives of the Union.
13. To advance the development of the continent by promoting research in all fields, in particular in science and technology.
14. To work with relevant international partners in the eradication of preventable diseases and the promotion of good health on the continent.

The African Union is made up of both political and administrative bodies. The highest decision-making organ is the Assembly of the African Union, made up of all the heads of state or government of member states of the AU. The Assembly is chaired by Félix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The AU also has a representative body, the Pan-African Parliament, which consists of 265 members elected by the national legislatures of the AU member states. Its president is Roger Nkodo Dang.

Other political institutions of the AU include:

* the Executive Council, made up of foreign ministers, which prepares decisions for the Assembly;
* the Permanent Representatives Committee, made up of the ambassadors to Addis Ababa of AU member states; and
* the Economic, Social, and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC), a civil society consultative body.

The AU Commission, the secretariat to the political structures, is chaired by Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma of South Africa. On 15 July 2012, Dlamini-Zuma won a tightly contested vote to become the first female head of the African Union Commission, replacing Jean Ping of Gabon.

Other AU structures are hosted by different member states:

* the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights is based in Banjul, the Gambia; and
* the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and APRM Secretariats and the Pan-African Parliament are in Midrand, South Africa.

The AU's first military intervention in a member state was the May 2003 deployment of a peacekeeping force of soldiers from South Africa, Ethiopia, and Mozambique to oversee the implementation of the various agreements in Burundi. AU troops were also deployed in Sudan for peacekeeping during the Darfur Conflict, before the mission was handed over to the United Nations on 1 January 2008 via UNAMID. The AU has a peacekeeping mission in Somalia, consisting of troops from Uganda and Burundi.[19]

The AU has adopted a number of important new documents establishing norms at the continental level, to supplement those already in force when it was created. These include the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (2003), the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (2007), the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and its associated Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance.[20]

## History

[edit]

Main articles: History of the African Union and History of Africa

African leaders who founded the OAU the predecessor of the African Union, Emperor Haile Selassie I (center), President Kenyatta (right) and other African leaders including President Obote (behind, left side)

The historical foundations of the African Union originated in the First Congress of Independent African States, held in Accra, Ghana from 15 to 22 April 1958. The conference was aimed at establishing Africa Day to annually mark the liberation movement concerning the willingness of the African people to free themselves from colonial rule, as well as subsequent attempts to unite Africa, including the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was established on 25 May 1963, and the African Economic Community in 1991.[21] 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".[22]

The idea of creating the AU was revived in the mid-1990s under the leadership of Libyan head of state Muammar al-Gaddafi;[23] the heads of state and governments of the OAU issued the Sirte Declaration (named after Sirte, Libya) on 9 September 1999, calling for the establishment of an African Union.[24] 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.[25][26]

The African Union was launched in Durban on 9 July 2002 by its first chairperson, former South African head of state Thabo Mbeki, at the first session of the Assembly of the African Union.[27] The second session of the Assembly was held in Maputo in 2003 and the third session in Addis Ababa was held on 6 July 2004.

Since 2010, the African Union eyes the establishment of a joint African space agency.[28][29][30][31]

Barack Obama was the first-ever sitting United States president to speak in front of the African Union in Addis Ababa on 29 July 2015. During his speech, he encouraged the world to increase economic ties via investments and trade with the continent and lauded the signs of progress made in education, infrastructure and economy. However, he also criticized a lack of democracy and leaders who refuse to step down, discrimination against minorities (including LGBT people, religious groups and ethnicities) and corruption. He suggested an intensified democratization and free trade to significantly increase living quality for Africans.[32][33]

### Treaties

[edit]

Signed
In force
Document | 1961
1962  | 1963
1965
OAU Charter | 1991
N/A
Abuja Treaty | 1999
2002
Sirte Declaration |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Organisation of African Unity (OAU) | African Economic Community: (AEC) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Community of Sahel–Saharan States (CEN-SAD) |
| Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) |
| East African Community (EAC) |
| Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) |
| Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) |
| Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) |
| Southern African Development Community (SADC) |
| Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) |
Casablanca Group |  | African Union (AU)
Monrovia Group
|  |  |

* v
* t
* e

## Politics

[edit]

This article is part of a series on

Politics of the African Union

Institutions

* Casablanca Group
* Union of African States
* Organisation of African Unity
* African Economic Community
* African Unification Front

Executive

* Assembly
* Chairperson
* Commission
* Chairperson
* Conference and Events
* Peace & Sec.
* Pol. Affairs
* Infra. & Energy
* Soc. Affairs
* HR, Sci., & Tech.
* Trade and Industry
* Rural Econ. & Agri.
* Economic
* Legal Counsel
* Executive Council
* Rep. Committee

Legislature

* Pan-African Parliament
* President (Fortune Z. Charumbira)
* Bureau
* Secretariat
* List of members
* Permanent Committees
* Rural Econ., Agri., Resources, Environ.
* Monetary & Financial
* Trade, Customs, & Immigration
* Cooperation, IR, & Conflict
* Transport, Industry, Communication,
Energy, Science, & Tech.
* Health, Labour, & Social
* Educ., Culture, Tourism, & HR
* Gender, Family, Youth, Disabilities
* Justice & Rights
* Rules, Privileges, & Discipline
* Committee on Audit and Public Accounts (CAPA)

Judiciary

* Sirte Declaration
* Constitutive Act of the AU
* Law
* Charter on Rights
* Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights
* Justice and Human Rights
* Court of Justice
* Court on Human and Peoples' Rights
* List of judges

Advisory bodies

* Peace and Security Council
* Economic, Social and Cultural Council
* Specialised Technical Committees
* Rural Econ., Agri.
* Monetary & Financial
* Trade, Customs, and Immigration
* Industry, Sci. & Tech., Energy, Natural Resources, & Environment
* Transport, Comm., Tourism
* Health, Labor, Social
* Edu., Culture, & Human Resources

Financial bodies

* AEC Pillars (Abuja Treaty)
* CEN-SAD
* COMESA
* EAC
* ECCAS/CEEAC
* CEMAC
* ECOWAS/CEDEAO
* UEMOA
* WAMZ
* IGAD
* SADC
* SACU
* AMU/UMA
* African Central Bank
* African Monetary Union
* African Investment Bank
* New Partnership for Africa's Development
* African Peer Review Mechanism
* New Partnership for Africa's Development E-School Program

Decentralised bodies

* Agencies of the AU
* Africa CDC
* African Space Agency
* Afripol

Related topics

* Enlargement
* Foreign relations
* TerrAfrica partnership

* Other countries

* v
* t
* e

The African Union has a number of official bodies:

Pan-African Parliament (PAP)
To become the highest legislative body of the African Union. The seat of the PAP is at Midrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. The Parliament is composed of 265 elected representatives from all 55 AU states, and intended to provide popular and civil-society participation in the processes of democratic governance. Its president is Roger Nkodo Dang, of Cameroon.
Assembly of the African Union
Composed of heads of state and heads of government of AU states, the Assembly is currently the supreme governing body of the African Union. It is gradually devolving some of its decision-making powers to the Pan-African Parliament. It meets once a year and makes its decisions by consensus or by a two-thirds majority. The current chair of the AU is President Macky Sall, President of Senegal.
African Union Commission (or Authority)
The secretariat of the African Union, composed of ten commissioners and supporting staff and headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In a similar fashion to its European counterpart, the European Commission, it is responsible for the administration and coordination of the AU's activities and meetings.
Court of Justice of the African Union
The Constitutive Act provides for a Court of Justice to rule on disputes over interpretation of AU treaties. A protocol to set up this Court of Justice was adopted in 2003 and entered into force in 2009. It was, however, superseded by a protocol creating an African Court of Justice and Human Rights, which will incorporate the already established African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights (see below) and have two chambers: one for general legal matters and one for rulings on the human rights treaties.
Executive Council
Composed of ministers designated by the governments of member states. It decides on matters such as foreign trade, social security, food, agriculture and communications, is accountable to the Assembly, and prepares material for the Assembly to discuss and approve. It is chaired by Shawn Makuyana of Zimbabwe (2015– ).
Permanent Representatives' Committee
Consisting of nominated permanent representatives of member states, the Committee prepares the work for the Executive Council, similar to the role of the Committee of Permanent Representatives in the European Union.
Peace and Security Council (PSC)
Proposed at the Lusaka Summit in 2001 and established in 2004 under a protocol to the Constitutive Act adopted by the AU Assembly in July 2002. The protocol defines the PSC as a collective security and early-warning arrangement to facilitate timely and effective response to conflict and crisis situations in Africa. Other responsibilities conferred to the PSC by the protocol include prevention, management and resolution of conflicts, post-conflict peace building and developing common defence policies. The PSC has fifteen members elected on a regional basis by the Assembly. Similar in intent and operation to the United Nations Security Council.
Economic, Social and Cultural Council
An advisory organ composed of professional and civic representatives, similar to the European Economic and Social Committee. The chair of ECOSOCC, elected in 2008, is Cameroonian lawyer Akere Muna of the Pan-African Lawyers Union (PALU).
Specialised Technical Committees
Both the Abuja Treaty and the Constitutive Act provide for Specialised Technical Committees to be established made up of African ministers to advise the Assembly. In practice, they have never been set up. The ten proposed themes are: Rural Economy and Agricultural Matters; Monetary and Financial Affairs; Trade, Customs, and Immigration; Industry, Science and Technology; Energy, Natural Resources, and Environment; Transport, Communications, and Tourism; Health; Labour, and Social Affairs; Education, Culture, and Human Resources.
Financial institutions

* African Central Bank – Abuja, Nigeria
* African Investment Bank – Tripoli, Libya
* African Monetary Fund – Yaoundé, Cameroon

These institutions have not yet been established; however, the Steering Committees working on their founding have been constituted. Eventually, the AU aims to have a single currency (the Afro).

Health
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), founded in 2016 and launched in 2017. Its Headquarters are in Addis Ababa Ethiopia.[34][35][36][37]
Human rights
The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, in existence since 1986, is established under the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (the African Charter) rather than the Constitutive Act of the African Union. It is the premier African human rights body, with responsibility for monitoring and promoting compliance with the African Charter. The African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights was established in 2006 to supplement the work of the commission, following the entry into force of a protocol to the African Charter providing for its creation. It is planned that the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights will be merged with the Court of Justice of the African Union (see above).
Space
The African Space Agency was officially formed in 2023. It is headquartered in Cairo.
Energy
The African Energy Commission was founded in 2008, and is based in Algiers.

### Member states

[edit]

Main article: Member states of the African Union

All UN member states based in Africa and on African islands are members of the AU, as is the partially recognized state of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). Morocco withdrew from the Organisation of African Unity in 1984 due to the admission as a member state of the SADR, whose territory of Western Sahara it claims sovereignty over. It was readmitted by the AU as a member state on 30 January 2017.[38] Somaliland, which is claimed by Somalia, applied to join the AU in 2005.[39]

Mali was suspended from the African Union on 19 August 2020 following a military coup.[40] On 9 October of the same year, the Peace and Security Council of the African Union lifted the suspension imposed on Mali, citing progress made to return to democracy.[41] The country was again suspended on 1 June 2021, following its second military coup within nine months.[42]

Guinea's membership was also suspended by the African Union on 10 September 2021, after a military coup deposed the country's President Alpha Condé.[43]

Sudan's membership was suspended by the African Union on 27 October 2021, after a military coup deposed the civilian government led by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok.[44]

Burkina Faso's membership was suspended by the African Union in the aftermath of a military coup on 31 January 2022.[45]

Niger's membership was suspended by the African Union on 22 August 2023 following a military coup in late July that deposed democratically elected president Mohamed Bazoum; this has since also led to the 2023 Nigerien crisis.[46]

Gabon's membership was suspended by the African Union on 31 August 2023 following a military coup that deposed president Ali Bongo Ondimba.[47] In April 2025, the Peace and Security Council of the African Union rejoined the African Union and decided to lift sanctions against Gabon.[48]

#### Members

[edit]

* Algeria
* Angola
* Benin
* Botswana
* Burkina Faso (suspended)
* Burundi
* Cameroon
* Cape Verde
* Central African Republic
* Chad
* Comoros
* Democratic Republic of the Congo
* Republic of the Congo
* Djibouti
* Egypt
* Equatorial Guinea
* Eritrea
* Eswatini
* Ethiopia
* Gabon
* Gambia
* Ghana
* Guinea (suspended)
* Guinea-Bissau
* Ivory Coast
* Kenya
* Lesotho
* Liberia
* Libya
* Madagascar
* Malawi
* Mali (suspended)
* Mauritania
* Mauritius
* Morocco
* Mozambique
* Namibia
* Niger (suspended)
* Nigeria
* Rwanda
* Sahrawi Republic
* São Tomé and Príncipe
* Senegal
* Seychelles
* Sierra Leone
* Somalia
* South Africa
* South Sudan
* Sudan (suspended)
* Tanzania
* Togo
* Tunisia
* Uganda
* Zambia
* Zimbabwe

#### Observers

[edit]

* Haiti[49]
* Israel (suspended as of February 2023)[50][51]
* Kazakhstan[52]
* Latvia[53]
* Mexico[54]
* Palestine[55]
* Serbia[56]
* Turkey[57]
* Ukraine[58]
* United Arab Emirates[59]

### Governance

[edit]

The principal topic for debate at the July 2007 AU summit held in Accra, Ghana, was the creation of a Union Government,[60] with the aim of moving towards a United States of Africa. A study on the Union Government was adopted in late 2006,[61] and proposes various options for "completing" the African Union project. There are divisions among African states on the proposals, with some (notably Libya) following a maximalist view leading to a common government with an AU army; and others (especially the southern African states) supporting rather a strengthening of the existing structures, with some reforms to deal with administrative and political challenges in making the AU Commission and other bodies truly effective.[62]

Following a heated debate in Accra, the Assembly of Heads of State and Government agreed in the form of a declaration to review the state of affairs of the AU with a view to determining its readiness towards a Union Government.[63] In particular, the Assembly agreed to:

* Accelerate the economic and political integration of the African continent, including the formation of a Union Government of Africa;
* Conduct an audit of the institutions and organs of the AU; review the relationship between the AU and the RECs; find ways to strengthen the AU and elaborate a timeframe to establish a Union Government of Africa.

The declaration lastly noted the "importance of involving the African peoples, including Africans in the Diaspora, in the processes leading to the formation of the Union Government".

Following this decision, a panel of eminent persons was set up to conduct the "audit review". The review team began its work on 1 September 2007. The review was presented to the Assembly of Heads of State and Government at the January 2008 summit in Addis Ababa. No final decision was taken on the recommendations, however, and a committee of ten heads of state was appointed to consider the review and report back to the July 2008 summit to be held in Egypt.[64] At the July 2008 summit, a decision was once again deferred, for a "final" debate at the January 2009 summit to be held in Addis Ababa.

#### Role of African Union

[edit]

The image above contains clickable linksEuler diagram showing the relationships among various multinational African entities

* v
* t
* e

One of the key debates in relation to the achievement of greater continental integration is the relative priority that should be given to integration of the continent as a unit in itself or to integration of the sub-regions. The 1980 Lagos Plan of Action for the Development of Africa and the 1991 treaty to establish the African Economic Community (also referred to as the Abuja Treaty), proposed the creation of Regional Economic Communities (RECs) as the basis for African integration, with a timetable for regional and then continental integration to follow.[65]

Currently, there are eight RECs recognised by the AU, each established under a separate regional treaty. They are:

* the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU)
* the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)
* the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD)
* the East African Community (EAC)
* the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS)
* the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
* the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)
* the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC)

The membership of many of the communities overlaps, and their rationalisation has been under discussion for several years—and formed the theme of the 2006 Banjul summit. At the July 2007 Accra summit the Assembly finally decided to adopt a Protocol on Relations between the African Union and the Regional Economic Communities.[66] This protocol is intended to facilitate the harmonisation of policies and ensure compliance with the Abuja Treaty and Lagos Plan of Action time frames.

### Selection of the chairperson

[edit]

In 2006, the AU decided to create a Committee "to consider the implementation of a rotation system between the regions" in relation to the presidency. Controversy arose at the 2006 summit when Sudan announced its candidacy for the AU's chairmanship, as a representative of the East African region. Several member states refused to support Sudan because of tensions over Darfur (see also below). Sudan ultimately withdrew its candidacy and President Denis Sassou-Nguesso of the Republic of the Congo was elected to a one-year term. At the January 2007 summit, Sassou-Nguesso was replaced by President John Agyekum Kufuor of Ghana, despite another attempt by Sudan to gain the chair. The year 2007 was the 50th anniversary of Ghana's independence, a symbolic moment for the country to hold the chair of the AU—and to host the mid-year summit at which the proposed Union Government was also discussed. In January 2008, President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania took over as chair, representing the East African region and thus apparently ending Sudan's attempt to become chair—at least till the rotation returned to East Africa.[67] The current chair is Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, President of Mauritania, whose term began on February 17, 2024.[68]

#### List of chairpersons

[edit]

Main article: Chairperson of the African Union

Muammar Gaddafi embracing Tanzanian President Kikwete after assuming the chairmanship

Chairpersons of the African Union  Name  | Beginning of term  | End of term  | Country

|
|
|

Thabo Mbeki | 9 July 2002  | 10 July 2003  |  South Africa
Joaquim Chissano | 10 July 2003  | 6 July 2004  |  Mozambique
Olusegun Obasanjo | 6 July 2004  | 24 January 2006  |  Nigeria
Denis Sassou-Nguesso | 24 January 2006  | 24 January 2007  |  Republic of the Congo
John Kufuor | 30 January 2007  | 31 January 2008  |  Ghana
Jakaya Kikwete | 31 January 2008  | 2 February 2009  |  Tanzania
Muammar al-Gaddafi | 2 February 2009  | 31 January 2010  |  Libya
Bingu wa Mutharika[69][70] | 31 January 2010  | 31 January 2011  |  Malawi
Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo[71] | 31 January 2011  | 29 January 2012  |  Equatorial Guinea
Yayi Boni | 29 January 2012  | 27 January 2013  |  Benin
Hailemariam Desalegn | 27 January 2013  | 30 January 2014  |  Ethiopia
Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz | 30 January 2014  | 30 January 2015  |  Mauritania
Robert Mugabe | 30 January 2015  | 30 January 2016  |  Zimbabwe
Idriss Déby | 30 January 2016  | 30 January 2017  |  Chad
Alpha Condé | 30 January 2017  | 28 January 2018  |  Guinea
Paul Kagame[72] | 28 January 2018  | 10 February 2019  |  Rwanda
Abdel Fattah el-Sisi | 10 February 2019  | 10 February 2020  |  Egypt
Cyril Ramaphosa[73] | 10 February 2020  | 10 February 2021  |  South Africa
Félix Tshisekedi | 10 February 2021  | 5 February 2022  |  Democratic Republic of the Congo
Macky Sall | 5 February 2022  | 18 February 2023  |  Senegal
Azali Assoumani | 18 February 2023  | 17 February 2024  |  Comoros
Mohamed Ould Ghazouani | 17 February 2024  | Incumbent |  Mauritania

### Headquarters

[edit]

Main article: African Union Conference Center and Office Complex

The main administrative capital of the African Union is in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where the African Union Commission is headquartered. A new headquarters complex, the AU Conference Center and Office Complex (AUCC), was inaugurated on 28 January 2012, during the 18th AU summit.[74] The complex was built by China State Construction Engineering Corporation as a gift from the Chinese government, and accommodates, among other facilities, a 2,500-seat plenary hall and a 20-story office tower. The tower is 99.9 meters high to signify the date 9 September 1999, when the Organisation of African Unity voted to become the African Union.[75] The building cost US$200 million to construct.[76]

#### Espionage accusations

[edit]

Main article: 2018 China–African Union espionage allegations

On 26 January 2018, five years after the completion of the building of the AU Headquarters, the French newspaper Le Monde[77] published an article stating that the Chinese government had heavily bugged the building, installing listening devices in the walls and furniture and setting up the computer system to copy data to servers in Shanghai daily.[76] The Chinese government denied that they bugged the building, stating that the accusations were "utterly groundless and ridiculous".[76] Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn rejected the French media report.[78] Moussa Faki Mahamat, head of the African Union Commission, said the allegations in the Le Monde's report were false. "These are totally false allegations and I believe that we are completely disregarding them."[79] The African Union replaced its Chinese-supplied servers and started encrypting its communications following the event.[80]

### African Union summits

[edit]

Billboard in Niamey (Niger) announcing the 33rd AU Summit (2019)

Session  | Host country  | Host city  | Date  | Theme  | Notes

|
|
|
|
|

37th |  Ethiopia | Addis Ababa | 17–18 February 2024 | "Educate and Skill Africa for the 21st Century"[81] |
36th |  Ethiopia | Addis Ababa | 18–19 February 2023 |  |
35th |  Ethiopia | Addis Ababa | 5–6 February 2022 |  |
34th |  Ethiopia | Addis Ababa | 6–7 February 2021 |  |
33rd[82] |  Ethiopia | Addis Ababa | 9–10 February 2020[83] | "Silencing the guns: creating conducive conditions for Africa's development"[82] | Agreement for African Continental Free Trade Agreement to become operational in July 2020.[84] Agreements to reduce gender gap and inequality and to "silence guns" on the continent.[84]
12th Extraordinary Summit on AfCFTA[85] |  Niger | Niamey | 4–8 July 2019 | "Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons: Towards Durable Solutions to Forced Displacement in Africa" | Launch of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement
32nd[86] |  Ethiopia | Addis Ababa | 10–11 February 2019 | "Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons: Towards Durable Solutions to Forced Displacement in Africa" |
11th Extraordinary Summit on AfCFTA[87] |  Ethiopia | Addis Ababa | 5–18 November 2018 |  | Agreement reached on reorganisation AU Commission[87]
31st[88] |  Mauritania | Nouakchott | 25 June – 2 July 2018 | "Winning the Fight Against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa's Transformation" |
10th Extraordinary Summit on AfCFTA[89] |  Rwanda | Kigali | 17–21 March 2018 | "Creating One African Market" | Agreement reached on the AfCFTA
30th[90] |  Ethiopia | Addis Ababa | 22–29 January 2018 | "Winning the Fight Against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa's Transformation" |
29th[91] |  Ethiopia | Addis Ababa | 27 June – 4 July 2017 | "Harnessing the Demographic Dividend Through Investments in Youth" |
28th[92] |  Ethiopia | Addis Ababa | 22–31 January 2017 | "Harnessing the Demographic Dividend Through Investments in Youth" | Morocco rejoins the AU after 33 years
27th[93] |  Rwanda | Kigali | 10–18 July 2016 | "African Year of Human Rights with Particular Focus on the Rights of Women" | Launch of African Union Passport
26th[94] |  Ethiopia | Addis Ababa | 21–31 January 2016 | "African Year of Human Rights with Particular Focus on the Rights of Women" |
Third India-Africa Forum Summit |  India | New Delhi | 26–29 October 2015 | "Reinvigorated Partnership—Shared Vision" |
25th[95][96] |  South Africa | Johannesburg | 7–15 June 2015 | "Year of Women Empowerment and Development Towards Africa's Agenda 2063" | Featured Angelina Jolie[97]
24th[98] |  Ethiopia | Addis Ababa | 23–31 January 2015 | "Year of Women Empowerment and Development Towards Africa's Agenda 2063" |
2nd Africa–Turkey Summit |  Equatorial Guinea | Malabo | 19–21 November 2014 | "A New Model of Partnership to Enhance a Sustainable Development and Integration of Africa" | [99][100]
23rd[101] |  Equatorial Guinea | Malabo | 20–27 June 2014 | "Year of Agriculture and food security" |
22nd[102][103] |  Ethiopia | Addis Ababa | 21–31 January 2014 | "Year Agriculture and food security, Marking 10th Anniversary of the Adoption of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP)" |
Extraordinary Summit on the ICC[104] |  Ethiopia | Addis Ababa | 11–12 October 2013 | "Africa's Relationship with the ICC" | This was in regards to the ICC's non-adherence to AU calls to drop certain charges against sitting leaders and claims that it was disproportionally targeting Africans.[105]
21st[106] |  Ethiopia | Addis Ababa | 19–27 May 2013 | "Panafricanism and African Renaissance" | 50th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Organisation of African Unity
20th[107] |  Ethiopia | Addis Ababa | 27–28 January 2013 | "Panafricanism and African Renaissance" |
Diaspora Summit[108] |  South Africa | Sandton | 23–25 May 2012 | "Towards the Realisation of a United and Integrated Africa and Its Diaspora" |
19th[109] |  Ethiopia | Addis Ababa | 9–16 July 2012 | "Boosting Intra-African Trade" |
18th[110] |  Ethiopia | Addis Ababa | 23–30 January 2012 | "Boosting Intra-African Trade" |
17th[111] |  Equatorial Guinea | Malabo | 23 June – 1 July 2011 | "Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Development" |
2nd Africa–India Summit |  Ethiopia | Addis Ababa | 20–25 May 2011 | "Enhancing partnership: shared vision" | [112]
16th[113] |  Ethiopia | Addis Ababa | 24–31 January 2011 | "Towards Greater Unity and Integration through Shared Values" |
15th[114] |  Uganda | Kampala | 19–27 July 2010 | "Maternal, Infant, and Child Health and Development in Africa" |
14th[115] |  Ethiopia | Addis Ababa | 25 January – 2 February 2010 | "Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Africa: Challenges and Prospects for Development" |
13th[116] |  Libya | Sirte | 24 June – 3 July 2009 | "Investing in Agriculture for Economic Growth and Food Security" |
12th[117] |  Ethiopia | Addis Ababa | 26 January – 3 February 2009 | "Infrastructure Development in Africa" |
11th[118] |  Egypt | Sharm el-Sheikh | 24 June – 1 July 2008 | "Meeting the Millennium Development Goals on Water and Sanitation" |
10th[119] |  Ethiopia | Addis Ababa | 25 January – 2 February 2008 | "Industrial Development of Africa" |
9th[120] |  Ghana | Accra | 25 June – 6 July 2007 | "Grand Debate on the Union Government" |
8th[121] |  Ethiopia | Addis Ababa | 22–30 January 2007 | 1\. "Science, Technology and Scientific Research for Development"
2\. "Climate Change in Africa" |
7th[122] |  Gambia | Banjul | 25 June – 2 July 2006 | "Rationalisation of Recs and Regional Integration" |
6th[123] |  Sudan | Khartoum | 16–24 January 2006 | "Education and Culture" |
5th[124] |  Libya | Sirte | 28–29 June 2005 |  |
Extraordinary summit on UN Reform[125] |  Ethiopia | Addis Ababa | 4 August 2005 |  |
4th[126] |  Nigeria | Abuja | 24–31 January 2005 |  |
3rd[127] |  Ethiopia | Addis Ababa | 6–8 July 2004 |  |
2nd[128] |  Mozambique | Maputo | 2–12 July 2003 |  |
1st[129] |  South Africa | Durban | 28 June 2002 – 10 July 2002 | "Peace, Development and Prosperity: The African Century" | Notable events include the launch of the African Union.[130]

### Foreign relations

[edit]

Main article: Foreign relations of the African Union

The individual member states of the African Union coordinate foreign policy through this agency, in addition to conducting their own international relations on a state-by-state basis. The AU represents the interests of African peoples at large in intergovernmental organisations (IGOs); for instance, it is a permanent observer at the United Nations General Assembly. Both the African Union and the United Nations work in tandem to address issues of common concerns in various areas. The African Union Mission to the United Nations aspires to serve as a bridge between the two organisations.

Membership of the AU overlaps with other IGOs, and occasionally, these third-party organisations and the AU will coordinate on matters of public policy. The African Union maintains special diplomatic representation with the United States and the European Union.

#### Africa–Caribbean relations

[edit]

See also: Group of 77 and Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States

Many Caribbean nations have sought to deepen ties with the continent of Africa. The African Union has referred to the Caribbean as the potential "Sixth Region" of the bloc.[131] Some Caribbean nations moved to join African institutions, including Barbados,[132] the Bahamas and Guyana, which all became members of the African Export–Import Bank.[133] Also, the Caribbean Development Bank signed a cooperation strategic partnership agreement with the African Development Bank (AfDB).[134] Antigua and Barbuda has also shown interest in a direct transport link between Africa and the Caribbean.[135][136] However, it has resulted in some challenges regarding migration.[137][138][139][140][141][142]

#### Africa–China relations

[edit]

Main article: Africa–China relations

One of the leading economic partners of the continent has been the People's Republic of China (PRC). The Forum on China–Africa Cooperation is the main multi-lateral coordination mechanism between the African countries and China.[143] Since joining FOCAC in 2012, the African Union has increasingly played a coordinating role, although each African country in FOCAC continues to represent itself individually.[144]

#### Africa–EU relations

[edit]

For the European Commission, the European Union's relationship with Africa is a key priority. The future Africa-EU partnership vision of the European Commission and the European External Action Service is outlined in the Joint Communication "Towards a Comprehensive Strategy with Africa". It proposes partnering on:[145][146]

* Green Transition and Energy Access
* Digital Transformation
* Sustainable Growth and Jobs[147][148]
* Peace, Security and Governance[148]
* Migration and Mobility[149]

On 2 December 2020, five Africa-Europe Foundation Strategy Groups were established in the areas of Health, Digital, Agriculture and Sustainable Food Systems, Sustainable energy and Transport and Connectivity. It was done together with a consortium comprising Friends of Europe, Mo Ibrahim Foundation and IPEMED.[150]

In regards to strengthening resilience, peace, security and governance, the African Union and the European Union recognize that resilience, peace, security and governance are all closely linked. Peace and security are important elements for sustainable development, prosperity and resilience of societies.[148] For ensuring peace and security, it had worked out the African Peace Facility.[151] This has been itself replaced in 2021 by the European Peace Facility.[152][153] The AU and EU are also partnering on promoting sustainable resources management, environmental resilience, and climate change mitigation[148] The Africa Adaptation Initiative is also being supported by the European Union.[154]

#### Africa–India relations

[edit]

Main article: Africa-India relations

Inaugural India–Africa Forum Summit held in New Delhi, 2008

The India–Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) is the official platform for the African-Indian relations. IAFS is held once in every three years. It was first held from April 4 to April 8, 2008 in New Delhi, India.[155] In 2015, the Third India-Africa Forum Summit was held in New Delhi and summit was attended by 51 heads of states of the African Union.[156] In 2023, the African Union was admitted to G20 under the presidency of India, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.

#### Africa–Palestine relations

[edit]

The African Union periodically invites the President of the State of Palestine to make an opening speech during its annual Summit in Addis Ababa. According to Article 10 of the Rules of Procedure of the Union, during the opening of the meeting sessions, the President of the State of Palestine in person is entitled to make an opening speech. After the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki expressed his "utmost concern" at the situation and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities; additionally, he recalled that denial of the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people, particularly that of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine, was the "main cause of the permanent Israeli-Palestinian tension".[157]

#### Africa–Russia relations

[edit]

Russia hosted the first Africa-Russia heads-of-state summit on October 23–24, 2019, Representatives from all 54 African states, including 43 heads-of-state or government, attended the summit.[158]

The second Russia-Africa Summit was scheduled for October 2022 in Addis Ababa, but was then rescheduled to 26–29 July 2023 in Saint Petersburg.[159][160]

#### Africa–South Korea relations

[edit]

See also: Africa–South Korea relations

The first summit was the South Korea–Africa Summit, Seoul in June 2024.[161]

#### Africa–Turkey relations

[edit]

Turkey–Africa relations have gained substantial momentum since the declaration of Turkey as a strategic partner of the continent by the African Union in January 2008. Since 2008, various major summits and meetings have been taking place between Turkey and AU. The first summit was The Turkey–Africa Cooperation summit, Istanbul in August 2008.[162]

As of 2020, Turkey has embassies in 42 countries and commercial counselors in 26 countries on the Africa continent. Turkey's national flag carrier Turkish Airlines also flies to 35 destinations on the continent.

#### Africa–United States relations

[edit]

AUC Chairperson Moussa Faki, US President Joe Biden and African leaders at the United States–Africa Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., 15 December 2022

In 2017, Donald Trump, President of the United States, issued an executive order to ban citizens from seven countries with suspected links to terrorism from entering the United States. Three of these are African countries, and members of the AU. During the 28th African Union Summit in Ethiopia, African leaders criticised the ban as they expressed their growing concerns for the future of the African economy under President Trump's leadership and subsequent policies.[163]

### Military

[edit]

See also: List of African Union military interventions

The African Union has the power to militarily intervene on behalf of its member states as laid out in Article 4(h) of the Constitutive Act of the African Union, "in respect of grave circumstances, namely: war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity".[164]

#### Togo

[edit]

In response to the death of Gnassingbé Eyadéma, President of Togo, on 5 February 2005, AU leaders described the appointment of his son, Faure Gnassingbé, to the presidency to have been a military coup.[165] Togo's constitution calls for the speaker of parliament to succeed the president in the event of his death. By law, the parliament speaker must call national elections to choose a new president within sixty days. The AU's protest forced Gnassingbé to hold elections. Under heavy allegations of election fraud, he was officially elected president on 4 May 2005.

#### Mauritania

[edit]

On 3 August 2005, a coup in Mauritania led the African Union to suspend the country from all organisational activities. The Military Council that took control of Mauritania promised to hold elections within two years.[citation needed][166] These were held in early 2007, the first time that the country had held elections that were generally agreed to be of an acceptable standard. Following the elections, Mauritania's membership of the AU was restored. However, on 6 August 2008, a fresh coup overthrew the government elected in 2007. The AU once again suspended Mauritania from the continental body.[167] The suspension was once again lifted in 2009 after the military junta agreed with the opposition to organise elections.[168]

#### Mali

[edit]

Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (formerly GSPC) area of operations

In March 2012, a military coup was staged in Mali, when an alliance of Touareg and Islamist forces conquered the north, resulting in a coming to power of the Islamists. This resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Malian soldiers and the loss of control over their camps and positions.[169] After a military intervention with help from French troops, the region was in control of the Malian army. To reinstall local authorities, the AU helped to form a caretaker government, supporting it and holding presidential elections in Mali in July 2013.[170]

In 2013, a summit for the African Union was held and it was decided that the African Union was going to enlarge their military presence in Mali. The AU decided to do this because of increasing tensions between al-Qaeda forces and the Mali army. There have been several rebel groups that are vying for control of parts of Mali. These rebel groups include the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), the National Front for the Liberation of Azawad (FLNA), Ganda Koy, Ganda Izo, Ansar ad-Din, and Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). AU forces have been tasked with counterinsurgency missions in Mali as well as governing presidential elections to ensure as smooth a transition of power as possible.[171]

#### 2021 hotspots

[edit]

A disputed election in December 2020 has led to intensification of the Central African Republic Civil War, displacing 200,000 people. United Nations peacekeepers, including soldiers from Russia and Rwanda, have kept the rebels out of Bangui, but rebels control much of the rest of the country. The AU has not sent peacekeepers to the areas because of a lack of agreement on how to handle the situation: Chad and the Republic of the Congo support the rebels while Rwanda and Angola support the government.[172]

The Tigray War in Ethiopia has left millions in need of humanitarian aid. Eritrean troops are said to be supporting the Ethiopian government, and there have been border conflicts with Sudan. The relationship between Sudan and Ethiopia is further complicated by the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam project, which also directly affects Egypt.[172]

##### Coup Belt

[edit]

Map of successful coups in Africa since 2020

The term Coup Belt originated from coups that were staged beginning in the early 2020s, including in Mali in 2020 and 2021, Guinea, Chad, and Sudan in 2021, two in Burkina Faso in January and September in 2022, and Niger and Gabon in 2023. The region also saw attempted coups in Niger and Sudan in 2021, Guinea–Bissau and The Gambia in 2022, and Sudan and Sierra Leone in 2023. After the 2023 Nigerien coup, these countries formed a continuous chain stretching between the east and west coasts of Africa.

### Regional conflicts and peacekeeping

[edit]

Main article: African Standby Force

One of the objectives of the AU is to "promote peace, security, and stability on the continent".[173] Among its principles is "Peaceful resolution of conflicts among Member States of the Union through such appropriate means as may be decided upon by the Assembly".[174] The primary body charged with implementing these objectives and principles is the Peace and Security Council. The PSC has the power, among other things, to authorise peace support missions, to impose sanctions in case of unconstitutional change of government, and to "take initiatives and action it deems appropriate" in response to potential or actual conflicts. The PSC is a decision-making body in its own right, and its decisions are binding on member states.

Article 4(h) of the Constitutive Act, repeated in Article 4 of the Protocol to the Constitutive Act on the PSC, also recognises the right of the Union to intervene in a member state in circumstances of war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity. Any decision to intervene in a member state under Article 4 of the Constitutive Act will be made by the Assembly on the recommendation of the PSC.

Since it first met in 2004, the PSC has been active in relation to the crises in Darfur, Comoros, Somalia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Ivory Coast and other countries. It has adopted resolutions creating the AU peacekeeping operations in Somalia and Darfur, and imposing sanctions against persons undermining peace and security (such as travel bans and asset freezes against the leaders of the rebellion in Comoros). The council is in the process of overseeing the establishment of a "standby force" to serve as a permanent African peacekeeping force.[citation needed][3]

The founding treaty of the AU also called for the establishment of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), including the African Standby Force (ASF), which is to be deployed in emergencies. That means, in cases of genocide or other serious human-rights violations, an ASF mission can be launched even against the wishes of the government of the country concerned, as long as it is approved by the AU. In past AU peacekeeping missions, the concept was not yet applied and forces had to be mobilised from member states. Although the ASF was declared fully operational in 2016 and used from 2017 onwards in ECOWAS, ECCAS and SADC interventions to the Gambia, Lesotho, Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it has not been deployed in the same way as originally concieved. Instead of the PSC acting as the primary initiator of ASF action as previously planned, Regional Economic Communities have took charge of mobilizing ASF capabilities. In light of continued criticism, ASF reform remains a prominent topic of discussion at the AU.[170][175]

#### Darfur, Sudan

[edit]

Main article: African Union Mission in Sudan

South Sudanese independence referendum, 2011

In response to the ongoing Darfur conflict in Sudan, the AU has deployed 7,000 peacekeepers, many from Rwanda and Nigeria, to Darfur. While a donor's conference in Addis Ababa in 2005 helped raise funds to sustain the peacekeepers through that year and into 2006, in July 2006 the AU said it would pull out at the end of September when its mandate expires.[176] Critics of the AU peacekeepers, including Eric Reeves, have said these forces are largely ineffective due to lack of funds, personnel, and expertise. Monitoring a large area has made it even more difficult to sustain an effective mission. In June 2006, the United States Congress appropriated US$173 million for the AU force. Some, such as the Genocide Intervention Network, have called for UN or NATO intervention to augment and/or replace the AU peacekeepers. The UN has considered deploying a force, though it would not likely enter the country until at least October 2007.[177] The under-funded and badly equipped AU mission was set to expire on 31 December 2006 but was extended to 30 June 2007 and merged with the United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur in October 2007. In July 2009 the African Union ceased cooperation with the International Criminal Court, refusing to recognise the international arrest warrant it had issued against Sudan's leader, Omar al-Bashir, who was indicted in 2008 for war crimes.[178]

The AU struggled to have a strategic role in the independence talks and the reconciliation process of South Sudan, due to overwhelming interests of African and non-African powers, its influence is still limited and not consistent.[179]

#### Somalia

[edit]

Main article: African Union Mission to Somalia

Kenyan soldiers and fighters of the Ras Kamboni Brigades, a Somali government-allied militia, near Kismayo, Somalia, 2012

From the early 1990s up until 2000, Somalia was without a functioning central government. A peace agreement aimed at ending the civil war that broke out following the collapse of the Siad Barre regime was signed in 2006 after many years of peace talks. However, the new government was almost immediately threatened by further violence. In February 2007, the African Union (AU) and European Union (EU) worked together to establish the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). The purpose of AMISOM was to create a foundation that would hopefully provide aid to some of Somalia's most vulnerable and keep the peace in the region. They are tasked with everything from protecting federal institutions to facilitating humanitarian relief operations. Much of the AU's opposition comes from an Islamic extremist group named al-Shabaab.[180] To temporarily shore up the government's military base, starting in March 2007, AU soldiers began arriving in Mogadishu as part of a peacekeeping force that was intended by the AU to eventually be 8,000 strong.[22] Eritrea recalled its ambassadors to the African Union on 20 November 2009[181] after the African Union called on the United Nations Security Council to impose sanctions on them due to their alleged support of Somali Islamists attempting to topple the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, the internationally recognised government of Somalia which holds Somalia's seat on the African Union.[182] On 22 December 2009, the United Nations Security Council passed UNSCR 1907, which imposed an arms embargo on Eritrea, travel bans on Eritrean leaders, and asset freezes on Eritrean officials. Eritrea strongly criticised the resolution. In January 2011, Eritrea reestablished their mission to the AU in Addis Ababa.[183]

In the fall of 2011, AMISOM forces, along with Kenyan and Ethiopian forces, launched a set of offensive attacks on the al-Shabaab. In these attacks, AMISOM forces were able to reclaim key cities including the Somali capital of Mogadishu. In September 2013, political scientist Ethan Bueno de Mesquita argued that with the help of AMISOM forces, they had made it "nearly impossible for al-Shabaab to hold territory even in its former strongholds in southern Somalia". Although much progress has been made towards peace in the region, it should still be noted that African Union forces' still get attacked regularly. Despite AMISOM being effective, it is vastly underfunded and many forces lack the resources required. Funding for humanitarian relief and the formation of armies tends to be vastly undercut.[180]

#### Anjouan, Comoros

[edit]

Main article: 2008 invasion of Anjouan

A successful 2008 invasion of Anjouan by AU and Comoros forces to stop self-declared president Mohamed Bacar, whose 2007 re-election was declared illegal.[184] Prior to the invasion, France helped transport Tanzanian troops but their position in the disagreement was questioned when a French police helicopter was suspected of attempting to sneak Bacar into French exile.[185] The first wave of troops landed on Anjouan Bay on 25 March and soon took over the airfield in Ouani, ultimately aiming to locate and remove Bacar from office.[184] On the same day, the airport, capital, and second city were overrun and the presidential palace was deserted.[186] Bacar escaped and sought asylum in France. The Comoros government demanded his return, in order to determine his fate.[187] Many of Bacar's main supporters were arrested by the end of March, including Caabi El-Yachroutu Mohamed and Ibrahim Halidi. Bacar's asylum request was rejected on 15 May, as France agreed to cooperate with the Comoran government's demand.[188] At the 29 June elections, Moussa Toybou won the presidency.[189]

#### Chagos Islands dispute

[edit]

Main article: Chagos Archipelago sovereignty dispute

The sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean is disputed between the United Kingdom and Mauritius.[190] In February 2019, the International Court of Justice in The Hague issued an advisory opinion stating that the UK must transfer the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius.[191] On 22 May 2019, the United Nations General Assembly debated and adopted a resolution that affirmed that the Chagos archipelago "forms an integral part of the territory of Mauritius".[192] The African Union urged the United Kingdom to comply with a UN resolution calling for it to withdraw from the Chagos Islands.[193] The UK does not recognise Mauritius' sovereignty claim over the Chagos Archipelago.[194]

### Current issues

[edit]

The AU faces many challenges, including health issues such as combating malaria and the AIDS/HIV epidemic; political issues such as confronting undemocratic regimes and mediating in the many civil wars; economic issues such as improving the standard of living of millions of impoverished, uneducated Africans; ecological issues such as dealing with recurring famines, desertification, and lack of ecological sustainability; as well as the legal issues regarding Western Sahara.

#### Corruption

[edit]

Daniel Batidam, an anti-corruption advisory board member of the African Union, resigned after stating that the organisation had "multiple irregularities" and that "issues have come up over and over again" regarding corruption. The African Union quickly accepted his resignation, with Batidam saying that it was a sign that mismanagement towards corruption will "continue with business as usual".[195]

In a story published on 12 March 2020, AU staff alleged that Commission chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat was guilty of corruption and cronyism, as well as running of a "mafia-style cartel" that operates with impunity.[196] The allegations were contained in a memo leaked to the South African Mail & Guardian. This followed sexual harassment allegations raised in late 2018.

#### Libyan crisis

[edit]

In 2011, when the conflict in Libya began, the African Union was initially criticised for doing little to prevent the conflict's escalation. Additionally, the AU hesitated to take a side. It was unclear whether the AU supported the Libyan regime or the rebels. This occurred as several human right violations were perpetrated against members of the Libyan regime. It was later realised that the AU's hesitation was due to its lack of capacity and its inability to engage in democratic reform.[197]

The AU attempted to mediate in the early stages of the 2011 Libyan civil war, forming an ad hoc committee of five presidents (Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso, Malian President Amadou Toumani Touré, Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, South African President Jacob Zuma, and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni) to broker a truce.[198] However, the beginning of the NATO-led military intervention in March 2011 prevented the committee from traveling to Libya to meet with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.[199] As a body, the AU sharply dissented from the United Nations Security Council's decision to create a no-fly zone over Libya,[200] though a few member states, such as Botswana,[201] Gabon,[202] Zambia,[203] and others expressed support for the resolution.

As a result of Gaddafi's defeat at the Battle of Tripoli (the war's deciding battle), in August 2011, the Arab League voted to recognise the anti-Gaddafi National Transitional Council as the legitimate government of the country, pending elections.[204] The council has been recognised by several AU member states, including two Arab League members.[205][206] However, the AU Peace and Security Council voted on 26 August 2011 not to recognise it, insisting on a ceasefire and on the formation of a national unity government by both sides.[207] A number of AU member states led by Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Rwanda requested that the AU recognise the NTC as Libya's interim governing authority,[208][209] and several other AU member states have recognised the NTC regardless of the Peace and Security Council's decision.[210][211] However, AU member states Algeria[212] and Zimbabwe[213] have indicated they will not recognise the NTC, and South Africa has expressed reservations as well.[214]

On 20 September 2011, the African Union officially recognised the National Transitional Council as the legitimate representative of Libya.[215]

In post-Gaddafi Libya, the African Union believes it still has an important responsibility to the country despite its failure to contribute to the conflict when it originated. Although the African Union is there to keep peace, it is not a long-term solution. The goal, as stated by the AU, is to establish a Libyan government that is sustainable to ensuring peace in Libya. To achieve some level of peace in Libya, the AU has to moderate peace talks which are aimed at achieving compromises and power sharing accommodations as well.[197]

## Geography

[edit]

Main article: Geography of the African Union

Regions of the African Union:
Northern Region (Sahara)
Southern Region (Kalahari)
Eastern Region (Nile)
Western Regions A and B (Niger and Volta Niger)
Central Region (Congo)

Member states of the African Union cover almost the entirety of continental Africa, except for several territories held by Spain (Ceuta, Melilla, and Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera). In addition, European countries have dependencies among the offshore islands of Africa: Spain (the Canary Islands and the islands of the plazas de soberanía); France (Mayotte, Réunion, and the Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean); Portugal (the Azores, Madeira, and the Savage Islands); and the United Kingdom (Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha). The geography of the African Union is wildly diverse, including the world's largest hot desert (the Sahara), huge jungles and savannas, and the world's longest river (the Nile).

The AU has an area of 29,922,059 square kilometres (11,552,972 sq mi), with 24,165 kilometres (15,015 mi) of coastline. The vast majority of this area is on continental Africa, while the only significant territories off the mainland are the island of Madagascar (the world's largest microcontinent and fourth-largest island) and the Sinai Peninsula (geographically a part of Asia), accounting for slightly less than 2% of the total area.

## Economy

[edit]

Main article: Economy of the African Union

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) was created among 54 of the 55 AU nations, with trade commencing as of 1 January 2021.[216] The African Export–Import Bank, to support this initiative, created the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System.

The AU's future goals include a customs union, a single market, a central bank, and a common currency (see African Monetary Union), thereby establishing economic and monetary union.[217]

### Indicators

[edit]

The following table shows various data for AU member states, including area, population, economic output and income inequality, as well as various indices, including human development, viability of the state, perception of corruption, economic freedom, state of peace, freedom of the press and democratic level.

Country  | Land Area

(km2) 2015[218]

| Population

2021[219][220]

| GDP (PPP)

(Intl. $) 2015[218]

| GDP (PPP)

per capita (Intl. $) 2015[218]

| HDI

2014[221]

| FSI

2016[222]

| CPI

2016[223]

| IEF

2016[224]

| GPI

2016[225]

| WPFI

2016[226]

| DI

2016[227]

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Algeria | 2,381,741  | 44,177,969  | 548,293,085,686  | 13,823  | 0.736  | 78.3  | 34  | 50.06  | 2.21  | 41.69  | 3.56
Angola | 1,246,700  | 34,503,774  | 173,593,223,667  | 6,938  | 0.532  | 90.5  | 18  | 48.94  | 2.14  | 39.89  | 3.40
Benin | 112,760  | 12,996,895  | 21,016,184,357  | 1,932  | 0.48  | 78.9  | 36  | 59.31  | 2.00  | 28.97  | 5.67
Botswana | 566,730  | 2,588,423  | 33,657,545,969  | 14,876  | 0.698  | 63.5  | 60  | 71.07  | 1.64  | 22.91  | 7.87
Burkina Faso | 273,600  | 22,100,683  | 28,840,666,622  | 1,593  | 0.402  | 89.4  | 42  | 59.09  | 2.06  | 22.66  | 4.70
Burundi | 25,680  | 12,551,213  | 7,634,578,343  | 300  | 0.4  | 100.7  | 20  | 53.91  | 2.50  | 54.10  | 2.40
Cape Verde | 4,030  | 587,925  | 3,205,197,585  | 6,158  | 0.646  | 71.5  | 59  | 66.46  | N/A  | 19.82  | 7.94
Cameroon | 472,710  | 27,198,628  | 68,302,439,597  | 2,926  | 0.512  | 97.8  | 26  | 54.18  | 2.36  | 40.53  | 3.46
Central African Republic | 622,980  | 5,457,154  | 2,847,726,468  | 581  | 0.35  | 112.1  | 20  | 45.23  | 3.35  | 33.60  | 1.61
Chad | 1,259,200  | 17,179,740  | 28,686,194,920  | 2,044  | 0.392  | 110.1  | 20  | 46.33  | 2.46  | 40.59  | 1.50
Comoros | 1,861  | 821,625  | 1,098,546,195  | 1,393  | 0.503  | 83.8  | 24  | 52.35  | N/A  | 24.33  | 3.71
Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 2,267,050  | 95,894,118  | 56,920,935,460  | 300  | 0.433  |  | 21  | 46.38  | 3.11  | 50.97  | 1.93
Congo, Republic of the | 341,500  | 5,835,806  | 27,690,345,067  | 5,993  | 0.591  | 92.2  | 20  | 42.80  | 2.25  | 35.84  | 2.91
Djibouti | 23,180  | 1,105,557  | 2,911,406,226  | 3,279  | 0.47  | 89.7  | 30  | 55.96  | 2.29  | 70.90  | 2.83
Egypt | 1,010,407  | 109,262,178  | 1,173,000,000,000  | 10,250  | 0.69  | 90.2  | 34  | 55.96  | 2.57  | 54.45  | 3.31
Equatorial Guinea | 28,050  | 1,634,466  | 32,317,928,931  | 38,243  | 0.587  | 85.2  | N/A  | 43.67  | 1.94  | 66.47  | 1.70
Eritrea[228] | 101,000  | 3,620,312  | 8,845,000,000b | 600b | 0.391  | 98.6  | 18  | 42.7  | 2.46  | 83.92  | 2.37
Eswatini | 17,204  | 1,192,271  | 10,452,834,007  | 8,122  | 0.531  | 87.6  | N/A  | 59.65  | 2.07  | 52.37  | 3.03
Ethiopia | 1,104,300  | 120,283,026  | 152,057,290,468  | 1,530  | 0.442  | 97.2  | 34  | 51.52  | 2.28  | 45.13  | 3.60
Gabon | 257,670  | 2,341,179  | 32,539,376,597  | 18,860  | 0.684  | 72  | 35  | 58.96  | 2.03  | 32.20  | 3.74
Gambia, The | 10,120  | 2,639,916  | 3,140,820,062  | 1,578  | 0.441  | 86.8  | 26  | 57.14  | 2.09  | 46.53  | 2.91
Ghana | 227,540  | 32,833,031  | 108,393,071,924  | 3,955  | 0.579  | 71.2  | 43  | 63.00  | 1.81  | 17.95  | 6.75
Guinea | 245,720  | 13,531,906  | 14,316,884,358  | 1,135  | 0.411  | 103.8  | 27  | 53.33  | 2.15  | 33.08  | 3.14
Guinea-Bissau | 28,120  | 2,060,721  | 2,521,743,682  | 1,367  | 0.42  | 99.8  | 16  | 51.81  | 2.26  | 29.03  | 1.98
Ivory Coast | 318,000  | 27,478,249  | 74,916,780,423  | 3,300  | 0.462  | 97.9  | 34  | 60.01  | 2.28  | 30.17  | 3.81
Kenya | 569,140  | 53,005,614  | 133,592,522,053  | 2,901  | 0.548  | 98.3  | 26  | 57.51  | 2.38  | 31.16  | 5.33
Lesotho | 30,360  | 2,281,454  | 5,914,437,068  | 2,770  | 0.497  | 80.9  | 39  | 50.62  | 1.94  | 28.78  | 6.59
Liberia | 96,320  | 5,193,416  | 3,533,313,381  | 500  | 0.43  | 95.5  | 37  | 52.19  | 2.00  | 30.71  | 5.31
Libya[229] | 1,759,540  | 6,735,277  | 94,010,000,000b | 14,900b | 0.724  | 96.4  | 14  | N/A  | 3.20  | 57.89  | 2.25
Madagascar | 581,800  | 28,915,653  | 33,354,200,458  | 1,376  | 0.51  | 84.2  | 26  | 61.06  | 1.76  | 27.04  | 5.07
Malawi | 94,280  | 19,889,742  | 19,137,290,349  | 1,112  | 0.445  | 87.6  | 31  | 51.8  | 1.82  | 28.12  | 5.55
Mali | 1,220,190  | 21,904,983  | 33,524,899,739  | 1,905  | 0.419  | 95.2  | 32  | 56.54  | 2.49  | 39.83  | 5.70
Mauritania[230] | 1,030,700  | 4,614,974  | 16,190,000,000b | 4,400b | 0.506  | 95.4  | 27  | 54.8  | 2.30  | 24.03  | 3.96
Mauritius | 2,030  | 1,298,915  | 23,817,914,134  | 18,864  | 0.777  | 43.2  | 54  | 74.73  | 1.56  | 27.69  | 8.28
Morocco | 446,300  | 37,076,584  | 257,398,957,178  | 7,365  | 0.628  | 74.2  | 37  | 61.27  | 2.09  | 42.64  | 4.77
Mozambique | 786,380  | 32,077,072  | 31,326,751,237  | 1,120  | 0.416  | 87.8  | 27  | 53.19  | 1.96  | 30.25  | 4.02
Namibia | 823,290  | 2,530,151  | 24,043,436,006  | 9,778  | 0.628  | 71.1  | 52  | 61.85  | 1.87  | 15.15  | 6.31
Niger | 1,266,700  | 25,252,722  | 17,857,377,171  | 897  | 0.348  | 98.4  | 35  | 54.26  | 2.24  | 24.62  | 3.96
Nigeria | 910,770  | 213,401,323  | 1,168,000,000,000  | 5,639  | 0.514  | 103.5  | 28  | 57.46  | 2.88  | 35.90  | 4.50
Rwanda | 24,670  | 13,461,888  | 19,216,033,048  | 1,655  | 0.483  | 91.3  | 54  | 63.07  | 2.32  | 54.61  | 3.07
São Tomé and Príncipe | 960  | 223,107  | 575,391,345  | 3,023  | 0.555  | 72.9  | 46  | 56.71  | N/A  | N/A  | N/A
Senegal | 192,530  | 16,876,720  | 34,398,281,018  | 2,274  | 0.466  | 83.6  | 45  | 58.09  | 1.98  | 27.99  | 6.21
Seychelles | 460  | 106,471  | 2,384,515,771  | 25,525  | 0.772  | 60.2  | N/A  | 62.2  | N/A  | 30.60  | N/A
Sierra Leone | 72,180  | 8,420,641  | 9,511,431,824  | 1,474  | 0.413  | 91  | 30  | 52.31  | 1.81  | 29.94  | 4.55
Somalia[231] | 627,340  | 17,065,581  | 5,900,000,000c | 600c | N/A  | 114  | 10  | N/A  | 3.41  | 65.35  | N/A
South Africa | 1,213,090  | 59,392,255  | 742,461,000,000  | 12,393  | 0.666  | 69.9  | 45  | 61.9  | 2.32  | 21.92  | 7.41
South Sudan | 619,745  | 10,748,272  | 21,484,823,398  | 1,741  | 0.467  | 113.8  | 11  | N/A  | 3.59  | 44.87  | N/A
Sudan | 1,886,086  | 45,657,202  | 165,813,461,495  | 4,121  | 0.479  | 111.5  | 14  | N/A  | 3.27  | 72.53  | 2.37
Tanzania | 885,800  | 63,588,334  | 130,297,806,032  | 2,510  | 0.521  | 81.8  | 32  | 58.46  | 1.90  | 28.65  | 5.76
Togo | 54,390  | 8,644,829  | 10,018,697,437  | 1,372  | 0.484  | 85.8  | 32  | 53.64  | 1.95  | 30.31  | 3.32
Tunisia | 155,360  | 12,262,946  | 121,200,025,401  | 10,770  | 0.721  | 74.6  | 41  | 57.55  | 1.95  | 31.60  | 6.40
Uganda | 200,520  | 45,853,778  | 67,856,334,117  | 1,738  | 0.483  | 97.7  | 25  | 59.26  | 2.15  | 32.58  | 5.26
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic[232] | 266,000  | 565,581  | 906,500,000d | 2,500d | N/A  | N/A  | N/A  | N/A  | N/A  | N/A  | N/A
Zambia | 743,390  | 19,473,125  | 58,400,082,027  | 3,602  | 0.586  | 86.3  | 38  | 58.79  | 1.78  | 35.08  | 5.99
Zimbabwe | 386,850  | 15,993,524  | 26,180,942,292  | 500  | 0.509  | 100.5  | 22  | 38.23  | 2.32  | 40.41  | 3.05
African Union | 30,370,000  | 1,393,676,444  | 5,457,724,064,668  | 4,602  | 0.524d | 88.99d | 31.51d | 55.55d | 2.27  | 37.89  | 4.30
Country  | Land Area (km2) 2015  | Population 2021  | GDP (PPP)

(Intl. $) 2015

| GDP (PPP)

per capita (Intl. $) 2015

| HDI

2014

| FSI

2016

| CPI

2016

| IEF

2016

| GPI

2016

| WPFI

2016

| DI

2016

a External data from 2016. b External data from 2015. c External data from 2014. d AU total used for indicators 1 through 3; AU weighted average used for indicator 4; AU unweighted average used for indicators 5 through 12.

## Demographics

[edit]

Main articles: Demographics of Africa and Member states of the African Union

### Population

[edit]

The total population of the African Union, as of 2017[update], is estimated at more than 1.25 billion, with a growth rate of more than 2.5% p.a.[233]

### Migration

[edit]

In 2018,[234] the African Union adopted the Free Movement Protocol.[235][236] This protocol allows for free movement of people between countries that are part of the African Union.

Article 14 of the Protocol to the treaty establishing the African economic community relating to the free movement of persons, right of residence, and the right of establishment discusses the free movement of workers.[237]

The African Union also has a Migration Policy Framework for Africa (MPFA).[238]

Forced displacement of people and groups has also been an area of focus for the AU—over thirty states have ratified the Kampala Convention, the only continental treaty focusing on internally displaced persons in the world.[239]

Beginning in 2016, the African Union introduced continent-wide passports.[240]

As of 2025 there has been an increased push for an implementation of the Free Movement Protocol. The UN has urged more states to ratify the protocol, and has praised Ghana for allowing visa free travel for all individuals with an African passport.[241]

### Languages

[edit]

See also: List of official languages by country and territory

Map showing the traditional language families represented in Africa (1996)

The official languages of the African Union are Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Swahili, and "any other African language".[2][3] The primary working languages of the African Union are English and French. To a lesser extent Portuguese and Arabic are used. The Constitutive Act, for example, is written in English, French and Arabic, while the protocol amending the Constitutive Act is written in English, French and Portuguese. As of 2020, the AU website is available in its entirety in English, partially in French and minimally in Arabic.[242] Portuguese and Swahili versions were added as "coming soon" (em breve) in April 2019.[243][244]

According to the Constitutive Act of the African Union,[245]

> The working languages of the Union and all its institutions shall be, if possible, African languages, Arabic, English, French and Portuguese.

A protocol amending the Constitutive Act was adopted in 2003 and as of April 2020 has been ratified by 30 of the 37 member states needed for a two-thirds majority. It would change the above wording to,[246]

> 1\. The official languages of the Union and all its institutions shall be Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Kiswahili and any other African language.
>  2\. The Executive Council shall determine the process and practical modalities for the use of official languages as working languages.

Founded in 2001 under the auspices of the AU, the African Academy of Languages promotes the usage and perpetuation of African languages among African people. In 2004 Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique addressed the assembly in Swahili, but had to translate his words himself.[247] The AU declared 2006 the Year of African Languages.[248][249] 2006 also marked Ghana's 55th anniversary since it founded the Bureau of Ghana Languages originally known as Gold Coast Vernacular Literature Bureau.

### Health

[edit]

#### AIDS in Africa

[edit]

Prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Africa, total (% of population ages 15–49), in 2011 (World Bank)

over 15%

5–15%

2–5%

1–2%

0.5–1%

0.1–0.5%

not available

The AU has been active in addressing the AIDS pandemic in Africa. In 2001, the AU established AIDS Watch Africa to coordinate and mobilise a continent-wide response.[250] Sub-Saharan Africa, especially southern and eastern Africa, is the most affected area in the world. Though this region is home to only 6.2% of the world's population, it is also home to half of the world's population infected with HIV.[251] While the measurement of HIV prevalence rates has proved methodologically challenging, more than 20% of the sexually active population of many countries of southern Africa may be infected, with South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, and Zimbabwe all expected to have a decrease in life expectancy by an average of 6.5 years. The pandemic has had massive implications for the economy of the continent, reducing economic growth rates by 2–4% across Africa.[252]

In July 2007, the AU endorsed two new initiatives to combat the AIDS crisis, including a push to recruit, train and integrate two million community health workers into the continent's healthcare systems.[253]

In January 2012, the African Union Assembly requested that the African Union Commission would work out "a roadmap of shared responsibility to draw on African efforts for a viable health funding with support of traditional and emerging partners to address AIDS dependency response". Once created, the roadmap (as it is officially known) provided a group of solutions that would enhance the shared responsibility and global solidarity for AIDS, TB, and Malaria responses in Africa by 2015. The roadmap was organised into three pillars: diversified financing, access to medicines, and enhanced health governance. The roadmap held stakeholders accountable for the realisation of these solutions between 2012 and 2015.

The first pillar, diversified financing, ensures that countries begin to develop a country specific financial sustainability plans with clear targets, and identify and maximise opportunities to diversify funding sources in order to increase the domestic resource allocation to AIDS and other diseases.

The second pillar, access to affordable and quality-assured medicines, tries to promote and facilitate investing in leading medicine hub manufacturers in Africa, accelerate and strengthen medicine regulatory harmonisation, and create legislation that would help to protect the knowledge of the researchers who develop these life-saving medicines.

The third pillar, enhanced leadership and governance, tries to invest in programs that support people and communities to prevent HIV and ensure that leadership at all levels is mobilised to implement the roadmap. There are several organisations that will ensure the smooth implementation of the roadmap, including NEPAD, UNAIDS, WHO, and several other UN partners.[254]

#### COVID-19 pandemic

[edit]

By February 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa had resulted in 3.6 million confirmed cases and 89,000 related deaths, and only 25% of African countries had adequate plans for vaccination, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).[172] The pandemic has also devastated economies around the world, including in Africa.

## Culture

[edit]

### Symbols

[edit]

Emblem of the African Union

The emblem of the African Union consists of a gold ribbon bearing small interlocking red rings, from which palm leaves shoot up around an outer gold circle and an inner green circle, within which is a gold representation of Africa. The red interlinked rings stand for African solidarity and the blood shed for the liberation of Africa; the palm leaves, for peace; the gold, for Africa's wealth and bright future; the green, for African hopes and aspirations. To symbolise African unity, the silhouette of Africa is drawn without internal borders.[255]

The African Union adopted its new flag at its 14th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government taking place in Addis Ababa 2010. During the 8th African Union Summit which took place in Addis Ababa on 29 and 30 January 2007, the Heads of State and Government decided to launch a competition for the selection of a new flag for the Union. They prescribed a green background for the flag symbolising hope of Africa and stars to represent Member States.

Pursuant to this decision, the African Union Commission (AUC) organised a competition for the selection of a new flag for the African Union. The AUC received a total of 106 entries proposed by citizens of 19 African countries and 2 from the Diaspora. The proposals were then examined by a panel of experts put in place by the African Union Commission and selected from the five African regions for short listing according to the main directions given by the Heads of State and Government.[256]

At the 13th Ordinary Session of the Assembly, the Heads of State and Government examined the report of the Panel and selected one among all the proposals. The flag is now part of the paraphernalia of the African Union and replaces the old one.

The old flag of the African Union bears a broad green horizontal stripe, a narrow band of gold, the emblem of the African Union at the centre of a broad white stripe, another narrow gold band and a final broad green stripe. Again, the green and gold symbolise Africa's hopes and aspirations as well as its wealth and bright future, and the white represents the purity of Africa's desire for friends throughout the world. The flag has led to the creation of the "national colours" of Africa of gold and green (sometimes together with white). These colours are visible in one way or another in the flags of many African nations. Together the colours green, gold, and red constitute the Pan-African colours.

The African Union has adopted the anthem "Let Us All Unite and Celebrate Together".

### Celebration

[edit]

Africa Day (formerly African Freedom Day and African Liberation Day) is an annual commemoration regarding the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), on 25 May 1963, and occurring on the same date of the month each year. Other celebrations include the following:

* The Fez Festival of World Sacred Music: a week-long celebration for harmony between cultures with dancing, Moroccan music, art exhibitions and films.[257]
* The Knysna Oyster festival: held in Knysna and focused around sport, food and their oyster heritage.[258]
* Lake of Stars Festival: three-day celebration that takes place in Lake Malawi, showcasing African music and welcoming people from around the world.[259]
* Fête du Vodoun: also known as the Ouidah Voodoo Festival. It is centred around their rituals on voodoo temples, with entertainment that includes horse races and traditional drum performances.[260]
* Umhlanga (ceremony): is mainly a private event for young women but on the sixth and seventh days the traditions are done publicly.[261]
* African Border Day is celebrated annually on 7 June to promote peace, cross-border cooperation and regional and continental integration in Africa
* Marsabit Lake Turkana Cultural Festival: held in Kenya and celebrates harmony amongst tribes with their culture, singing, dancing and traditional costumes.[262]
* Enkutatash is the word for the Ethiopian New Year in Amharic, the official language of Ethiopia. It occurs on 11 September in the Gregorian Calendar; except for the year preceding a leap year, when it occurs on 12 September.

## See also

[edit]

* Africa Adaptation Initiative
* African Century
* African Peer Review Mechanism
* African Renaissance
* African Standby Force
* African Unification Front
* Africanisation
* Central Asian Union
* East African Federation
* Ezulwini agreement
* Friends of the African Union
* Indigenous peoples of Africa
* List of country groupings
* List of multilateral free-trade agreements
* Prevention of environmental migration
* Pan-Africanism
* Pan-African Women's Organization

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e Suspended members
2. ^ a b Excluding Western Sahara due to lack of data

## References

[edit]

### Sources

[edit]

1. ^ "African Union anthem, etc". Africamasterweb.com. Archived from the original on 15 September 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
2. ^ a b c "AU Languages". African Union. Archived from the original on 7 April 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
3. ^ a b c Touray, Omar Alieu (2016). The African Union the first ten years. Rowman and Littlefield. pp. Maryland. ISBN 978-1-4422-6897-5.
4. ^ Corresponds to the terrestrial surface. Including the Exclusive Economic Zones of each member state, the total area is 43 434 569 km2.
5. ^ "Estimated mid-year population by major area and region" (PDF). United Nations Statistics Division. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
6. ^ "Africa: Data Mapper Economic Overview". International Monetary Fund. IMF. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
7. ^ "Africa: Data Mapper Economic Overview". International Monetary Fund. IMF. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
8. ^ "Africa: Data Mapper Economic Overview". International Monetary Fund. IMF. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
9. ^ "Africa: Data Mapper Economic Overview". International Monetary Fund. IMF. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
10. ^ Staff writer (2025). "African Union (AU)". UIA Global Civil Society Database. uia.org. Brussels, Belgium: Union of International Associations. Yearbook of International Organizations Online. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
11. ^ "Member States AU-UN". WorldAtlas. 6 May 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
12. ^ Mbeki, Thabo (9 July 2002). "Launch of the African Union, 9 July 2002: Address by the chairperson of the AU, President Thabo Mbeki". ABSA Stadium, Durban, South Africa: africa-union.org. Archived from the original on 3 May 2009. Retrieved 8 February 2009.
13. ^ "About the African Union | African Union". au.int. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
14. ^ Manboah-Rockson, Joseph (23 September 2016). Politics & the Struggle for Democracy in Ghana: An Introduction to Political Science.
15. ^ "African Union made permanent member of G20 at Delhi summit". The Guardian. 9 September 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
16. ^ "Constitutive Act" (PDF). African Union. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 April 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
17. ^ "Evolution of Geopolitical Dynamics in Africa". Guambia. 28 November 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
18. ^ "The New Power Play in Africa: Russia, China, and the Shifting Sands of Influence". KCS Group. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
19. ^ "African Union adds 4,000 troops to Somalia peace force". Reuters. 27 July 2010. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
20. ^ Africa-union.org Archived 4 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine
21. ^ [1] Archived 10 December 2018 at the Wayback Machine South African History Online (SAHO), 15 May 2018.
22. ^ a b Reynolds, Paul (8 July 2002). "African Union replaces dictators' club". BBC News. Archived from the original on 1 June 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
23. ^ Adebajo, Adekeye (26 August 2011). "Gaddafi: the man who would be king of Africa". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
24. ^ "The African Union After Gaddafi". The Journal of Diplomacy and International Relations. 5 December 2011. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
25. ^ "African leaders elect OAU boss". CNN. 10 July 2001. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
26. ^ "New Partnership for Africa's Development – NEPAD | Poverty Eradication". www.un.org. 27 August 2015. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
27. ^ "The African Union is launched". Africa Renewal. 18 November 2016. Archived from the original on 16 April 2021. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
28. ^ Smith, David (5 September 2010). "Africa prepares to join the big boys in the space race". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 16 November 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
29. ^ Smith, David (6 September 2012). "Sudanese president calls for African space agency". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2 January 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
30. ^ "Africa eyes joint space agency". Phys.org. 11 September 2012. Archived from the original on 21 October 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
31. ^ Ezigbo, Onyebuchi; Okpara, Lois (9 August 2010). "AU to Establish African Space Agency". All Africa. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
32. ^ Lee, Carol E. (28 July 2015). "Obama Becomes First U.S. President to Address African Union". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 29 July 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
33. ^ "Remarks by President Obama to the People of Africa". whitehouse.gov. 28 July 2015. Archived from the original on 20 January 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2015 - via National Archives.
34. ^ "Africa CDC Official Launch". African Union. 31 January 2017. Archived from the original on 30 June 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
35. ^ "The African Union launches Africa CDC, a Continent-wide Public Health Agency". Reliefweb. 2 February 2017. Archived from the original on 22 March 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
36. ^ "Africa CDC: Improving Disease Detection and Emergency Response on the African Continent". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 27 July 2017. Archived from the original on 22 March 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
37. ^ "Inspection visit to Africa CDC Headquarters building site". Africa CDC. Archived from the original on 5 February 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
38. ^ "Morocco rejoins African Union". Worldbulletin. 30 January 2017. Archived from the original on 20 July 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
39. ^ Nelson, Elizabeth A. (2021). Regional Politics and State Secession. Edward Elgar Publishing. p. 105\. ISBN 978-1-83910-377-3.
40. ^ "African Union suspends Mali following coup". Agence France-Presse, Reuters. Deutsche Welle. Archived from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
41. ^ "African Union lifts Mali's suspension imposed in the wake of coup". www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 9 October 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
42. ^ "African Union announces 'immediate suspension' of Mali after second coup". France 24, Reuters, Agence France-Presse. France 24. 2 June 2021. Archived from the original on 12 September 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
43. ^ "African Union suspends Guinea after coup, as envoys arrive for talks". France 24, Agence France-Presse. France 24. 10 September 2021. Archived from the original on 12 September 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
44. ^ "African Union suspends Sudan over coup". www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
45. ^ "AU suspends Burkina Faso after coup as envoys head for talks". www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 23 December 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
46. ^ "African Union suspends participation of Niger following coup". Reuters. 22 August 2023. Archived from the original on 6 September 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
47. ^ Newspaper, The Peninsula (31 August 2023). "African Union says to 'immediately suspend' Gabon after coup". thepeninsulaqatar.com. Archived from the original on 2 September 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
48. ^ "L'Union africaine lève les sanctions contre le Gabon après son retour à l'ordre constitutionnel". aa.com.tr. 30 April 2025. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
49. ^ "Haiti Will Not Join the African Union". Haiti Hub. 22 May 2016. Archived from the original on 22 June 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
50. ^ "African Union says Israel's observer status suspended". www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 8 September 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
51. ^ i24NEWS (6 February 2022). "Israel dispute erupts at African Union summit". Ynetnews. Archived from the original on 6 February 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
52. ^ "Kazakhstan's Observer status at the African Union: What Does It Mean for Africa?". www.igd.org.za. Archived from the original on 27 March 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
53. ^ "Latvia becomes observer to African Union". www.mfa.gov.lv. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia. 11 January 2012. Archived from the original on 18 September 2014.
54. ^ "Chairperson Receives the Credentials of the First Permanent Observer of Mexico to the African Union". au.int. 18 June 2012. Archived from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
55. ^ el-Dakhakhni, Fathya (27 May 2013). "AU grants Palestine observer status". egyptindependent.com. Egypt Independent. Archived from the original on 29 December 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
56. ^ "Mrkić na samitu u Adis Abebi". b92.net (in Serbian (Latin script)). 30 January 2014. Archived from the original on 16 June 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
57. ^ "What's driving Turkey's commercial & military relations with Africa?". The Africa Report.com. 11 January 2022. Archived from the original on 6 February 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
58. ^ "Ukraine has obtained the observer status in the African Union". mfa.gov.ua. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. 22 June 2016. Archived from the original on 16 June 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
59. ^ "Chairperson Receives Credentials of the Permanent Observer of the United Arab Emirates. | African Union". au.int. Archived from the original on 6 February 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
60. ^ Decision on the Report of the 9th Extraordinary session of the executive council on the proposals for the Union Government, DOC.Assembly/AU/10 (VIII), Assembly/AU/Dec.156 (VIII).
61. ^ Study on an African Union Government: Towards a United States of Africa, 2006. See also, Decision on the Union Government, Doc. Assembly/AU/2(VII).
62. ^ "Pambazuka.org". Archived from the original on 8 June 2007.
63. ^ Accra Declaration, Assembly of the Union at its 9th Ordinary session in Accra, Ghana, 1–3 July 2007.
64. ^ "Decision on the Report of the Executive Council on the Audit of the Union and the Report of the Ministerial Committee on the Union Government, Doc. Assembly/Au/8(X)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
65. ^ See note on The Role of the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) as the Building Blocks of the African Union prepared by the South African Department of Foreign Affairs.
66. ^ Decision on the Protocol on Relations between the African Union and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), Assembly/AU/Dec.166 (IX).
67. ^ See Towards a People-Driven African Union: Current Obstacles and New Opportunities Archived 16 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine, AfriMAP, AFRODAD and Oxfam GB, Updated Edition November 2007, pp. 45–46, and Strengthening Popular Participation in the African Union: A Guide to AU Structures and Processes Archived 27 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine, AfriMAP and Oxfam GB, 2010, pp. 8–9.
68. ^ "President of Mauritania Elected as New Chairperson of AU".
69. ^ Gaddafi fails in bid to remain African Union chair, Reuters, 31 January 2010 [dead link]
70. ^ Malawi president takes over as AU president, AFP, 31 January 2010
71. ^ According to the AU Archived 6 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine, his official style is Son Excellence Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, Président de la République, Chef de l'État et Président Fondateur du Parti Démocratique de Guinée Equatoriale (in French). Retrieved 4 October 2011.
72. ^ "President Paul Kagame, Elected as New Chairperson of the African Union for the year 2018 - African Union". au.int. Archived from the original on 5 February 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
73. ^ "South Africa takes over as AU chair: What to expect". aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 12 February 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
74. ^ Press release No 13 / 18th AU Summit : Inauguration of the new African Union Conference Center Archived 16 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Directorate of Information and Communication. African Union Commission (28 January 2012).
75. ^ Linyan, Wang. "New headquarters shows partnership entering era of hope: Ethiopia PM". China Daily. Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
76. ^ a b c Tiezzi, Shannon. "If China Bugged the AU Headquarters, What African Countries Should Be Worried?". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on 5 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
77. ^ "A Addis-Abeba, le siège de l'Union africaine espionné par Pékin". Le Monde.fr (in French). 26 January 2018. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
78. ^ "AU spying report absurd: China". enca.com. Archived from the original on 24 August 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
79. ^ Blanchard, Ben (8 February 2018). "African Union says has no secret dossiers after China spying report". reuter.com. Archived from the original on 10 September 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
80. ^ Statt, Nick (29 January 2018). "China denies claims it built backdoors into African Union's headquarters for spying". The Verge. Archived from the original on 9 October 2019. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
81. ^ "African Union | an Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa".
82. ^ a b "The 33rd AU Summit kicks off with the 39th Session of the Permanent Representatives Committee | African Union". au.int. Archived from the original on 21 January 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
83. ^ "33rd AU Summit : Online accreditation for Journalists now open | African Union". au.int. Archived from the original on 3 February 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
84. ^ a b "South African President Cyril Ramaphosa elected African Union Chairperson as continent vows to 'silence the guns', boost trade and close gender gap". Today News Africa. 9 February 2020. Archived from the original on 16 February 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
85. ^ "12th Extraordinary Summit on AfCFTA". African Union. Archived from the original on 5 July 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
86. ^ "32nd AU summit". African Union. Archived from the original on 6 August 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
87. ^ a b "11th Extraordinary Summit Summary of Key Decisions". African Union. 18 November 2018. Archived from the original on 22 January 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
88. ^ "31st AU summit". African Union. Archived from the original on 8 July 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
89. ^ "10th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly on AfCFTA". African Union. 21 March 2018. Archived from the original on 8 July 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
90. ^ "30th AU summit". Archived from the original on 22 March 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
91. ^ "29th AU summit". 5 July 2017. Archived from the original on 16 November 2017. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
92. ^ "28th AU summit". 30 January 2017. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
93. ^ "27th AU summit". July 2016. Archived from the original on 7 October 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
94. ^ "26th AU summit". January 2016. Archived from the original on 29 September 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
95. ^ "25th AU summit". June 2015. Archived from the original on 2 October 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
96. ^ "25th African Union Summit in Johannesburg – African Union Commission media information". June 2015. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
97. ^ "A Call for Global Support in Ending Women's Violence Done by Angelina Jolie". newswatchngr.com. Newwatch NGR. February 2016. Archived from the original on 23 February 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
98. ^ "24th AU summit". January 2015. Archived from the original on 24 June 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
99. ^ "Second Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit". November 2014. Archived from the original on 25 December 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
100. ^ "Africa Turkey 2014". November 2014. Archived from the original on 23 December 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
101. ^ "23rd AU summit". June 2014. Archived from the original on 9 July 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
102. ^ "22nd AU summit". January 2014. Archived from the original on 14 February 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
103. ^ "22nd Ordinary Session of the Summit of the African Union". January 2014. Archived from the original on 14 February 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
104. ^ "AU Extraordinary Summit on ICC". October 2013. Archived from the original on 20 December 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
105. ^ "Kenya pushing for African split from International Criminal Court". Irish Times. Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
106. ^ "21st AU summit". May 2013. Archived from the original on 1 July 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
107. ^ "20th AU summit". January 2013. Archived from the original on 9 May 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
108. ^ "Global Africa Diaspora Summit". May 2012. Archived from the original on 16 September 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
109. ^ "19th African Union (AU) Summit to be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia". June 2012. Archived from the original on 2 October 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
110. ^ "18th AU summit". January 2012. Archived from the original on 14 June 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
111. ^ "17th AU summit". June 2011. Archived from the original on 23 December 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
112. ^ "2nd Africa-India Forum Summit". May 2011. Archived from the original on 31 March 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
113. ^ "16th African Union summit". January 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
114. ^ "15th African Union summit". July 2010. Archived from the original on 9 September 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
115. ^ "14th African Union summit". January 2010. Archived from the original on 11 October 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
116. ^ "13th African Union summit". July 2009. Archived from the original on 2 November 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
117. ^ "12th African Union summit". January 2009. Archived from the original on 2 November 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
118. ^ "The 11th AU summit". July 2008. Archived from the original on 11 October 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
119. ^ "The 10th African Union summit". January 2008. Archived from the original on 2 November 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
120. ^ "9th African Union summit". July 2007. Archived from the original on 2 November 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
121. ^ "8th African Union summit". January 2007. Archived from the original on 6 August 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
122. ^ "7th African Union summit". July 2006. Archived from the original on 6 August 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
123. ^ "6th African Union summit". January 2006. Archived from the original on 14 February 2008. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
124. ^ "5th African Union summit". June 2005. Archived from the original on 24 February 2008. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
125. ^ "AU Summit". Archived from the original on 15 February 2008. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
126. ^ "4th African Union summit". January 2005. Archived from the original on 15 March 2008. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
127. ^ "3rd African Union summit". July 2004. Archived from the original on 7 February 2008. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
128. ^ "African Union Summit Maputo Mozambique". July 2003. Archived from the original on 8 July 2004. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
129. ^ "OAU/AU summit". June 2002. Archived from the original on 22 October 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
130. ^ "1st AU summit: Documents and Speeches". June 2002. Archived from the original on 1 October 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
131. ^ African Union 6th Region Diaspora Headquarters to be established in Accompong, Jamaica Archived 11 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine, 24 January 2018.
132. ^ Jones, Lorna. "Barbados inks MOU with African Export-Import Bank". Archived from the original on 17 July 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
133. ^ "Barbados Parliament ratifies Partnership Agreement with Afreximbank, as Guyanaand Bahamas join CARICOM signatories". African Export-Import Bank. 5 December 2022. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
134. ^ AfDB, CDB move to deepen Africa, Caribbean cooperation, sign MoU Archived 25 June 2022 at the Wayback Machine, June 18, 2022
135. ^ "Antigua Airways is airborne and ready to become the "pride of the Caribbean"". Antigua News Room. 9 January 2023. Archived from the original on 23 April 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
136. ^ jennelsa.johnson (17 April 2023). "Government has not given up on Antigua Airways as company seeks to make comeback". Antigua Observer Newspaper. Archived from the original on 24 April 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
137. ^ "3 dead, 13 missing in Caribbean sinking; 14 Africans saved". AP NEWS. 28 March 2023. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
138. ^ Michael, Vivian (29 March 2023). "Tragedy at sea: Boat carrying African migrants from Antigua capsizes near St Kitts". Antigua Observer Newspaper. Archived from the original on 20 May 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
139. ^ Michael, Vivian (31 March 2023). "Fury as gov't says it bears no responsibility for migrant boat tragedy". Antigua Observer Newspaper. Archived from the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
140. ^ "Less than 600 West African migrants remain in Antigua | Loop Caribbean News". Loop News. Archived from the original on 10 September 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
141. ^ "The migrants stranded on an island they had not heard of". BBC News. 7 March 2023. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
142. ^ "Antigua Government says no automatic citizenship for stranded Africans". CNW Network. 11 February 2023. Archived from the original on 23 April 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
143. ^ Murphy, Dawn C. (2022). China's rise in the Global South: The Middle East, Africa, and Beijing's alternative world order. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press. p. 56\. ISBN 978-1-5036-3060-4. OCLC 1249712936.
144. ^ Murphy, Dawn C. (2022). China's rise in the Global South: The Middle East, Africa, and Beijing's alternative world order. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press. p. 57\. ISBN 978-1-5036-3060-4. OCLC 1249712936.
145. ^ "Africa-EU Partnership". International Partnerships - European Commission. 3 November 2020. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
146. ^ "EUR-Lex - 52020JC0004 - EN - EUR-Lex". eur-lex.europa.eu. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
147. ^ "Mobilising Investments for African structural sustainable transformation | The Africa-EU Partnership". africa-eu-partnership.org. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
148. ^ a b c d "Strengthening Resilience, Peace, Security and Governance | The Africa-EU Partnership". africa-eu-partnership.org. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
149. ^ "Migration and mobility | The Africa-EU Partnership". africa-eu-partnership.org. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
150. ^ Anonymous (3 November 2020). "Africa-EU Partnership". International Partnerships - European Commission. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
151. ^ "The African Peace Facility | The Africa-EU Partnership". africa-eu-partnership.org. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
152. ^ "Questions & Answers: The European Peace Facility". EEAS - European External Action Service - European Commission. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
153. ^ "The European Peace Facility and what's in it for the African Union". ECDPM. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
154. ^ "European Union ramps up support to Africa Adaptation Initiative with EUR 1 million grant | UNDP in Africa". UNDP. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
155. ^ Pasricha, Anjana (9 April 2008). "India-Africa Summit Pledges Close Partnership". VOA News. Voice of America. Archived from the original on 17 November 2008. Retrieved 3 January 2009.
156. ^ "Biggest diplomatic event: India-Africa summit from October 26". The Times of India. 25 March 2015.
157. ^ Njaaga, David (7 October 2023). "African Union calls for end to Israel-Palestine hostilities". The Standard. Archived from the original on 9 October 2023.
158. ^ "Date and venue of Russia-Africa summit not yet determined—Russian senior diplomat". TASS. Archived from the original on 5 February 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
159. ^ "Most African nations will attend Russia's second Africa-Russia summit in St Petersburg". bne IntelliNews. 14 March 2023. Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
160. ^ "African Union chair: Putin's grain offer not enough, Ukraine ceasefire needed". Reuters. 28 July 2023. Archived from the original on 3 September 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
161. ^ "S. Korea-Africa summit paves way for stronger cooperation on trade, energy, economy". Yonhap News Agency. 5 June 2024.
162. ^ "From Rep. Of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs". Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
163. ^ "African Union Slams Trump Muslim Ban, Invoking Legacy of Transatlantic Slave Trade". Democracy Now!. Archived from the original on 31 January 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
164. ^ "Constitutive Act of the African Union," opened for signature 11 July 2000. Organisation for African Unity. https://au.int/sites/default/files/pages/34873-file-constitutiveact_en.pdf Archived 15 April 2020 at the Wayback Machine.
165. ^ "AU denounces Togo 'military coup'". BBC News. 6 February 2005. Archived from the original on 15 January 2009. Retrieved 10 July 2006.
166. ^ N'Diaye, Boubacar (2009). "To 'Midwife' - and Abort - a Democracy: Mauritania's Transition from Military Rule, 2005-2008". The Journal of Modern African Studies. 47 (1): 129–152\. doi:10.1017/S0022278X08003765. ISSN 0022-278X. JSTOR 30224926. S2CID 154877577. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
167. ^ "All is rather easily forgiven". The Economist. 23 July 2009. Archived from the original on 21 February 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
168. ^ "African Union lifts sanctions on Mauritania". Reuters. 1 July 2009. Archived from the original on 4 December 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
169. ^ Dixon, Robyn; Labous, Jane (4 April 2012). "Gains of Mali's Tuareg rebels appear permanent, analysts say". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 10 September 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
170. ^ a b "The long haul | D+C - Development + Cooperation". www.dandc.eu. 27 August 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
171. ^ Besancon, Marie; Dalzell, Stephen (June 2014). "The Soldier and the Street: East African CIMIC in Somalia and Beyond". PRISM Security Studies Journal. 5: 117–135.
172. ^ a b c Mohamed, Hamza (5 February 2021). "From COVID to conflict, five priorities for African Union summit". aljazeera.com. Al Jazeera English. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
173. ^ Article 3(f) of the Constitutive Act.
174. ^ Article 4(e) of the Constitutive Act.
175. ^ "Revitalising the African standby force: lessons from Africa's Peace operations experience". ACCORD. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
176. ^ "AU Darfur mission 'to end soon'". BBC News. 28 June 2006. Archived from the original on 26 August 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
177. ^ "Security Council Authorises Deployment of United Nations-African Union 'Hybrid' Peace Operation in Bid To Resolve Darfur Conflict". United Nations. Archived from the original on 15 August 2007. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
178. ^ "African move on Bashir dismissed". BBC News. 5 July 2009. Archived from the original on 25 December 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
179. ^ Sulaiman, Abubkar o.; Agoha, Ifeanyi Chuckwu (1 October 2013). "South Sudan Negotiated Independence: A Critique of African Union's Role". European Journal of Sustainable Development. 2 (3): 145–154\. Bibcode:2013EJSD....2..145S. doi:10.14207/ejsd.2013.v2n3p145.
180. ^ a b Anderson, Noel (2014). "Peacekeepers Fighting a Counterinsurgency Campaign: A Net Assessment of the African Union Mission in Somalia". Studies in Conflict and Terrorism. 37 (11): 936–954\. doi:10.1080/1057610X.2014.952260. S2CID 109822861.
181. ^ Afro News Archived 24 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine Eritrea breaks with African Union, 20 November 2009.
182. ^ "AU calls for sanctions on Eritrea" Archived 7 November 2017 at the Wayback Machine BBC.co.uk 23 May 2009. Retrieved 23 May 2009
183. ^ "Eritrea: Nation Appoints AU Envoy in Ethiopia". 20 January 2011. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
184. ^ a b "African Union forces seek rebel leader". France 24. Archived from the original on 15 April 2008. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
185. ^ "Comoros anger over chopper crash". BBC News. 20 March 2008. Archived from the original on 23 March 2008. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
186. ^ "Battles on Comoros rebel island". BBC News. 25 March 2008. Archived from the original on 31 March 2008. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
187. ^ "Comoran rebel seeks French asylum". BBC News. 27 March 2008. Archived from the original on 28 March 2008. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
188. ^ "Comoran rebel asylum plea refused". BBC News. 15 May 2008. Archived from the original on 28 August 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
189. ^ "Toybou confirmed Anjouan president". Afrol News. Archived from the original on 4 September 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
190. ^ "Chagos Islands dispute: UK 'threatened' Mauritius". BBC News. 27 August 2018. Archived from the original on 23 March 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
191. ^ "Foreign Office quietly rejects International Court ruling to hand back Chagos Islands". inews.co.uk. 18 June 2020. Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
192. ^ Sands, Philippe (24 May 2019). "At last, the Chagossians have a real chance of going back home". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021. "Britain's behaviour towards its former colony has been shameful. The UN resolution changes everything"
193. ^ "African Union orders Britain to withdraw from Chagos Islands, end 'colonial administration'". Business Insider. 22 November 2019. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
194. ^ "Chagos Islands dispute: UK misses deadline to return control". BBC News. 22 November 2019. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
195. ^ "Official quits AU anti-corruption body over 'multiple irregularities'". Radio France Internationale. 23 June 2018. Archived from the original on 1 February 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
196. ^ "Exclusive: A 'mafia-style' cartel is running the African Union, claim staff". 12 March 2020. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
197. ^ a b Hove, Mediel (May 2017). "Post-Gaddafi Libya and the African Union: Challenges and the Road to Sustainable Peace". Journal of Asian and African Studies. 52 (3): 271–286\. doi:10.1177/0021909615583366. S2CID 147689749.
198. ^ "African Union urges restraint on both sides". The Star. 21 March 2011. Archived from the original on 21 March 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
199. ^ Mulondo, Emmanuel (21 March 2011). "Kutesa, AU blocked from entering Libya". Daily Monitor. Archived from the original on 24 March 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
200. ^ "African Union demands end to military strikes on Libya, skips Paris meeting". Sudan Tribune. 19 March 2011. Archived from the original on 21 March 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
201. ^ Kayawe, Baboki (23 March 2011). "Khama supports no-fly zone on Libya". Mmegi. Archived from the original on 25 November 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
202. ^ "UN authorises no-fly zone over Libya". Al Jazeera. 18 March 2011. Archived from the original on 18 March 2011. Retrieved 18 March 2011.
203. ^ "Rupiah backs action against Libya". The Post. 27 March 2011. Archived from the original on 11 September 2012. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
204. ^ "Arab League Recognizes Libyan Rebel Council". RTTNews. 25 August 2011. Archived from the original on 4 June 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
205. ^ "Tunis recognizes Libyan rebels as country's rep". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. 20 August 2011. Archived from the original on 8 December 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
206. ^ "Egypt recognises Libya rebel government". The New Age. South Africa. 22 August 2011. Archived from the original on 8 March 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
207. ^ Malone, Barry (26 August 2011). "AU won't recognise Libyan rebel council: diplomats". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 28 August 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
208. ^ "Ethiopia recognizes Libyan rebels". NOW Lebanon. 24 August 2011. Archived from the original on 4 June 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
209. ^ "Libya-NTC: National Transitional Council in Libya". Afrique en ligne. 27 August 2011. Archived from the original on 17 January 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
210. ^ "Chad recognises rebel council as only legitimate authority in neighbouring Libya". Al Jazeera. 24 August 2011. Archived from the original on 24 August 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
211. ^ "Benin recognize Libyan rebels". Reuters. 27 August 2011. Archived from the original on 26 July 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
212. ^ "Algeria declines to recognize Libyan rebels". NOW Lebanon. 26 August 2011. Archived from the original on 4 June 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
213. ^ "Libyan envoy to Zimbabwe expelled for burning flag". The Zimbabwean. 26 August 2011. Archived from the original on 26 August 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
214. ^ "Libya: How SA stood firm on money for rebels". Mail & Globe Online. 26 August 2011. Archived from the original on 8 September 2011. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
215. ^ "African Union officially recognises Libya's new leadership". Archived from the original on 20 November 2011.
216. ^ Shendruk, Amanda (31 December 2020). "The world's largest free trade area starts up on Jan. 1, 2021". Quartz. Archived from the original on 4 January 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
217. ^ "Profile: African Union". BBC News. 1 July 2006. Archived from the original on 12 July 2006. Retrieved 10 July 2006.
218. ^ a b c "The World Bank DataBank | Explore. Create. Share". databank.worldbank.org. Archived from the original on 7 January 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
219. ^ "World Population Prospects 2022". United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
220. ^ "World Population Prospects 2022: Demographic indicators by region, subregion and country, annually for 1950–2100" (XSLX) ("Total Population, as of 1 July (thousands)"). United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
221. ^ Office, Human Development Report. "2015 Human Development Report". report.hdr.undp.org. Archived from the original on 11 December 2019. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
222. ^ "The Fragile States Index 2016 | The Fund for Peace". fsi.fundforpeace.org. Archived from the original on 4 February 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
223. ^ e.V., Transparency International. "Corruption Perceptions Index 2016". transparency.org. Archived from the original on 30 January 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
224. ^ "Index of Economic Freedom: Promoting Economic Opportunity and Prosperity by Country". www.heritage.org. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
225. ^ "Vision of Humanity". static.visionofhumanity.org. Archived from the original on 13 February 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
226. ^ "2016 World Press Freedom Index | Reporters Without Borders". RSF. Archived from the original on 1 February 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
227. ^ "Democracy Index 2016" (PDF). Economist Intelligence Unit. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 February 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
228. ^ "Eritrea". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
229. ^ "Libya". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. Archived from the original on 9 January 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
230. ^ "Mauritania". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. Archived from the original on 7 January 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
231. ^ "Somalia". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. Archived from the original on 1 July 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
232. ^ "Western Sahara". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. Archived from the original on 12 June 2007. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
233. ^ Eloundou, Ngah Eric (December 2019). "Private Sector Strengthening as Pillar of South Korea's Development Assistance toward Cameroon" (PDF). World Economic Brief. 9 (26). ISSN 2233-9140. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
234. ^ "The AU Free Movement of Persons Protocol". 17 February 2019. Archived from the original on 18 December 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
235. ^ "How the free movement of people could benefit Africa". 14 March 2018. Archived from the original on 19 February 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
236. ^ "AU protocol on free movement is a watershed moment for Africa; EALA and ECOWAS legislators' meeting kicks off". Archived from the original on 11 July 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
237. ^ "Protocol to the treaty establishing the african economic community relating to the free movement of persons, right of residence and right of establishment" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 March 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
238. ^ "Support to the African Union on migration and displacement". Archived from the original on 4 August 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
239. ^ "African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa (Kampala Convention) | African Union". au.int. Archived from the original on 1 August 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
240. ^ Frugé, Anne (1 July 2016). "The Opposite of Brexit: African Union Launches an All-Africa Passport". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 5 July 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
241. ^ "Experts urge faster ratification of the AU Free Movement Protocol | United Nations Economic Commission for Africa". www.uneca.org. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
242. ^ "Home | African Union". au.int. Archived from the original on 18 November 2017. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
243. ^ "Kiswahili | African Union". 6 April 2019. Archived from the original on 6 April 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
244. ^ "Portuguese | African Union". Archived from the original on 7 April 2019.
245. ^ Article 25, Constitutive Act of the African Union.
246. ^ "Protocol on the Amendments to the Constitutive Act of the African Union | African Union". www.au.int. Archived from the original on 17 June 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
247. ^ Swahili baffles African leaders Archived 11 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine, BBC 6 July 2004
248. ^ "Ethiopia: AU Launches 2006 As Year of African Languages". AllAfrica.com. 21 June 2006. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
249. ^ Project for the Study of Alternative Education in South Africa (2006). "The Year of African Languages (2006) – Plan for the year of African Languages – Executive Summary". Project for the Study of Alternative Education in South Africa. Archived from the original on 23 September 2006. Retrieved 30 September 2006.
250. ^ AIDS Watch Africa: An instrument for promoting AIDS responses in Africa (PDF). Discussion Paper presented by HE President Olusegun Obasanjo to Heads of State of the African Union. July 2004. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 August 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
251. ^ "Prevention gap report" (PDF). Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. 11 July 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
252. ^ Dixon, Simon; McDonald, Scott; Roberts, Jennifer (2002). "The Impact of HIV And AIDS on Africa's Economic Development". BMJ: British Medical Journal. 324 (7331): 232–234\. doi:10.1136/bmj.324.7331.232. JSTOR 25227281. PMC 1122139. PMID 11809650.
253. ^ Barton-Knott, Sophie (3 July 2017). "African Union endorses major new initiatives to end AIDS". UNAIDS. Archived from the original on 6 August 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
254. ^ Buse, Kent (January 2012). "Zeroing in on AIDS and Global Health Post-2015". Globalization and Health. 8 42: 42–44\. doi:10.1186/1744-8603-8-42. PMC 3528638. PMID 23199137.
255. ^ African Union Symbols Archived 11 May 2023 at the Wayback Machine, AU website.
256. ^ Kelley, Peter (18 February 2010). "HFS staffer Yadesa Bojia celebrated for designing striking new African Union flag". University of Washington. Archived from the original on 29 August 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
257. ^ "Fès Festival of World Sacred Music". Lonely Planet. Archived from the original on 4 September 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
258. ^ "Knysna Oyster Festival". Oyster Festival. Archived from the original on 26 March 2013. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
259. ^ Lanyado, Benji (11 June 2011). "Malawi's musical turn". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 4 September 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
260. ^ Okanla, Karim (11 January 2002). "Benin marks Voodoo Day". BBC News. Archived from the original on 4 September 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
261. ^ "Zulu Reed Dance". Eshowe. Archived from the original on 18 August 2013. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
262. ^ Chiba, Yasuyoshi (21 June 2018). "Pictures of the Day: 21 June 2018". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 4 September 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2018.

### General and cited references

[edit]

Library resources about
African Union

* * *

* Resources in your library
* Resources in other libraries

* Strengthening Popular Participation in the African Union: A Guide to AU Structures and Processes, AfriMAP and Oxfam GB, 2010.
* Towards a People Driven African Union: Current Challenges and New Opportunities. AfriMAP, AFRODAD and Oxfam GB, January 2007.
* J. B. Cartes Rodríguez (2024), "The African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights", Universidad Pública de Navarra, Pamplona. ISBN 978-84-9769-403-2.
* Melber, Henning (2001). The New African Initiative and the African Union: A Preliminary Assessment and Documentation. Uppsala, Sweden: Nordiska Afrikainstitutet. ISBN 91-7106-486-9. OCLC 49230331.
* Manby, Bronwen (November 2004). "The African Union, NEPAD, and Human Rights: The Missing Agenda". Human Rights Quarterly. 26 (4): 983–1027\. doi:10.1353/hrq.2004.0051. JSTOR 20069770. S2CID 144166728.
* Bibliography on the AU at the Peace Palace Library.

## External links

[edit]

African Union at Wikipedia's sister projects

* Definitions from Wiktionary
* Media from Commons
* News from Wikinews
* Data from Wikidata

Listen to this article
(4 parts, 25 minutes)

1.   2.   3.   4.

These audio files were created from a revision of this article dated 20 October 2006 (2006-10-20), and do not reflect subsequent edits.

(Audio help · More spoken articles)

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

African Union

History|

* Pan-Africanism
* Decolonisation of Africa
* Union of African States
* Casablanca Group
* Monrovia Group
* African and Malagasy Union
* Abuja Treaty
* Sirte Declaration
* Lome Summit
* Organisation of African Unity
* Chairperson
* Secretary General

Geography|

* Borders
* Extreme points
* Member states
* Regions

Organs|

* Executive Council
* Permanent Representatives' Committee
* Specialized Technical Committees

Assembly|

* Chairperson

Commission|

* Chairperson
* Deputy Chairperson
* AUCC
* 2025 election

Pan-African Parliament|

* Bureau
* Secretariat
* Gallagher Estate

African Court of Justice|

* African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights

ECOSOCC Committees|

* Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation
* Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security
* Department of Infrastructure and Energy
* Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development
* HR, Sciences and Technology
* Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Blue Economy
* Department of Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry, Mining
* Cross-Cutting Programs

Financial institutions|

* African Central Bank
* African Monetary Fund
* African Investment Bank

Peace and Security Council|

* ACIRC
* African Standby Force
* Panel of the Wise
* UNAMID
* AMIB
* AMIS
* AMISOM
* MISCA

Specialised agencies and institutions|

* Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
* African Civil Aviation Commission
* African Energy Commission
* Afripol
* African Space Agency

Politics|

* APRM
* Foreign relations
* African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights
* African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights
* Enlargement
* United States Africa Command (United States military bases)
* United States ambassadors
* African Union–Ethiopia relations

Symbols|

* Anthem
* Emblem
* Flag
* Passport

Economy|

* Currencies (Gold standard)
* Development Bank
* African Economic Community
* NEPAD
* African Continental Free Trade Area
* Single African Air Transport Market
* Trans-African Highway network

Culture|

* Africa Day
* African Border Day

Theory|

* Afro
* Federal Africa
* United States of Latin Africa
* East African Federation

* Category

Articles related to the African Union

* v
* t
* e

Africa articles

History|

| Chronology|

* Antiquity
* North Africa
* Archaeology
* Pre-colonial kingdoms
* Empires
* Sahelian
* Indian Ocean trade
* Bantu expansion
* Muslim conquest
* European exploration
* European colonisation
* Slavery
* Atlantic
* Barbary
* Indian Ocean
* Trans-Saharan
* Scramble for Africa
* Decolonisation

|

By topic|

* Economy
* Empires
* Historiography
* Military
* conflicts
* Science and technology

By region|

* Central
* East
* North
* South
* West

Geography|

* Countries and territories
* Highest points
* Impact craters
* Islands
* Natural history
* Regions
* Central
* East
* North
* South
* West
* Rivers

Politics|

* African Union
* Elections
* Democracy
* Heads of government
* Heads of state
* Human rights
* Freedom of religion
* LGBT rights
* Linguistic rights
* Women's rights
* feminism
* International organisations
* Pan-African Parliament
* Pan-Africanism
* Politics
* parties
* United States of Africa

Economy|

* Central banks
* Countries by GDP (nominal)
* Countries by GDP (PPP)
* Countries by HDI
* Billionaires
* Education
* Infrastructure
* Internet
* Natural resources
* Poverty
* Renewable energy
* Stock exchanges

Society|

* Abortion
* Birth control
* Caste systems
* Climate change
* Etiquette
* Health
* Languages
* Religion

Culture|

* Africanfuturism
* Architecture
* Art
* Cinema
* Cuisine
* Literature
* Media
* Music
* Philosophy
* World Heritage Sites

Sport|

* Africa Cricket Association
* African Games
* Afro-Asian Games
* Australian-rules football
* Confederation of African Football
* FIBA Africa
* Rugby Africa
* Stadiums by capacity
* Tour d'Afrique

Demographics|

* Countries by population
* density
* Emigration
* Ethnic groups
* HIV/AIDS
* Life expectancy
* Urbanization
* cities
* urban areas
* Youth in Africa

By year|

* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020

* Outline
* Index

* Category
* Portal

* v
* t
* e

Regional organizations

Bodies|

* African Union
* Alliance of Sahel States
* Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization
* Arab League
* Arctic Council
* Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
* Asia Cooperation Dialogue
* Asia Council
* Asia-Europe Foundation
* Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
* Assembly of European Regions
* Association of Caribbean States
* AUKUS
* Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation
* Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – Peoples' Trade Treaty
* Benelux
* British–Irish Council
* Bucharest Nine
* Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
* Central American Integration System
* Central European Free Trade Agreement
* Central European Initiative
* Collective Security Treaty Organization
* Commonwealth of Independent States
* Commonwealth of Nations
* Community for Democracy and Rights of Nations
* Community of Democratic Choice
* Community of Latin American and Caribbean States
* Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership
* Conference of European Regions with Legislative Power
* Council of the Baltic Sea States
* Council of Europe
* Craiova Group
* East African Community
* Eastern Partnership
* Economic Community of West African States
* Economic Cooperation Organization
* Eurasian Economic Union
* European Political Community
* European Union
* Forum for the Progress and Integration of South America
* GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development
* Gulf Cooperation Council
* Indian Ocean Rim Association
* International Conference on the Great Lakes Region
* Liptako–Gourma Authority
* Latin American Economic System
* Latin American Integration Association
* Latin American Parliament
* Lublin Triangle
* Melanesian Spearhead Group
* Mercosur
* New Hanseatic League
* Nordic-Baltic Eight
* Nordic Council
* North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
* Open Balkan
* Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States
* Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
* Organization of American States
* Organization of Ibero-American States
* Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation
* Pacific Alliance
* Pacific Islands Forum
* Paneuropean Union
* Polynesian Leaders Group
* Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership
* Regional Cooperation Council
* Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
* South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
* South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone
* South-East European Cooperation Process
* Southern African Development Community
* TAKM
* Three Seas Initiative
* Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat
* Organization of Turkic States
* Union of South American Nations
* Visegrád Group
* West African Economic and Monetary Union
* West Nordic Council
* Western Balkans Quad

Topics|

* Regional integration
* Regional organizations by population
* Regionalism (international relations)

* v
* t
* e

Pan-Africanism

Ideology|

| Variants|

* African nationalism
* African socialism
* Afrocentrism
* Anti-imperialism
* Anti-Western sentiment
* Black nationalism
* Garveyism
* Nkrumaism
* Sankarism
* Uhuru Movement
* Zikism

|

Concepts|

* African century
* Black power
* Négritude
* Ubuntu
* Ujamaa
* United States of Africa

Proponents|

| Politicians|

* Dennis Akumu
* Idi Amin
* Nnamdi Azikiwe
* Amílcar Cabral
* David Comissiong
* Jean-Jacques Dessalines
* Anténor Firmin
* Muammar Gaddafi
* Marcus Garvey
* Alieu Ebrima Cham Joof
* Kenneth Kaunda
* Modibo Keïta
* Jomo Kenyatta
* Toussaint Louverture
* Patrice Lumumba
* Samora Machel
* Ochola Ogaye Mak'Anyengo
* Thabo Mbeki
* Tom Mboya
* Robert Mugabe
* Abdias do Nascimento
* Gamal Abdel Nasser
* Kwame Nkrumah
* Julius Nyerere
* John Nyathi Pokela
* Thomas Sankara
* Ahmed Sékou Touré
* Haile Selassie
* Robert Sobukwe
* I. T. A. Wallace-Johnson

|

Others|

* Marimba Ani
* Molefi Kete Asante
* Steve Biko
* Edward Wilmot Blyden
* Stokely Carmichael
* Aimé Césaire
* John Henrik Clarke
* Martin R. Delany
* Cheikh Anta Diop
* W. E. B. Du Bois
* Frantz Fanon
* Amy Ashwood Garvey
* John G. Jackson
* Leonard Jeffries
* Yosef Ben-Jochannan
* Maulana Karenga
* Alice Kinloch
* Fela Kuti
* Malcolm X
* Archie Mafeje
* Ali Mazrui
* Zephania Mothopeng
* George Padmore
* Motsoko Pheko
* Runoko Rashidi
* Paul Robeson
* Randall Robinson
* Walter Rodney
* Burning Spear
* Issa Laye Thiaw
* Frances Cress Welsing
* Henry Sylvester Williams
* Amos N. Wilson
* Omali Yeshitela

Organizations|

| Educational|

* African Leadership Academy
* African Leadership University

|

Political|

* African Unification Front
* African Union
* All-African People's Revolutionary Party
* All-African Trade Union Federation
* Conseil de l'Entente
* Convention People's Party
* East African Community
* Economic Freedom Fighters
* First Pan-African Conference
* International African Service Bureau
* Organisation of African Trade Union Unity
* Organisation of African Unity
* Pan African Association
* Pan-African Freedom Movement for East and Central Africa
* Pan-African Congress
* Pan Africanist Congress of Azania
* Popular and Social League of the Great Sahara Tribes
* Rassemblement Démocratique Africain
* Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League
* ZANU–PF

Symbols|

* Black Star of Africa
* Le Marron Inconnu
* Lion of Judah
* Pan-African colours
* Pan-African flag

Dynamics|

* Ethnic groups of Africa
* Languages of Africa
* Religion in Africa
* Conflicts in Africa

Related|

* African philosophy
* African-American leftism
* Africanization
* All-African Peoples' Conference
* East African Federation
* Kwanzaa
* Union of African States
* United States of Africa
* United States of Latin Africa
* Year of Africa

* Pan-Africanism category
* Africa category
* Pan-Africanism portal
* Africa portal

* v
* t
* e

South–South cooperation and Third Worldism

Global South|

| Development|

* Landlocked developing countries
* Least developed countries
* Heavily indebted poor countries

|

Markets|

* Emerging markets
* Newly industrialized country
* Transition economy

Worlds theory|

* First World
* Second World
* Third World
* Fourth World

Geopolitics|

* Decolonization
* Cold War
* Neocolonialism
* Multipolarity
* World Conference against Racism
* Durban I
* Durban II
* Durban III
* Globalization

Finance|

* Debt
* Asian Clearing Union
* Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
* Asian Development Bank
* Arab Monetary Fund
* BancoSur
* BRIC (economics term)
* Caribbean Development Bank
* Common Fund for Commodities
* New Development Bank
* OPEC Fund for International Development

Trade and
development

* Developmental state
* Flying geese paradigm
* Infrastructure-based development
* Sustainable development
* Global System of Trade Preferences
* Protocol on Trade Negotiations
* New International Economic Order
* New World Information and Communication Order
* United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
* United Nations Development Programme
* United Nations Industrial Development Organization

Public health|

* Generic drugs
* biosimilar
* Pharmaceutical patents
* criticism
* Test data exclusivity
* Doha Declaration
* World Health Organization

Organizations
and groups

* G-5
* G-77
* G-15
* D-8
* G20 developing nations (G-20)
* G-24
* G33 developing countries (G-33)
* G-11
* G-90
* Non-Aligned Movement
* African, Caribbean and Pacific Group
* African Union
* Afro–Asian Conference
* BASIC countries
* BRICS
* Association of Southeast Asian Nations
* Colombo Plan
* Community of Latin American and Caribbean States
* IBSA Dialogue Forum
* International Solar Alliance
* Melanesian Spearhead Group
* North–South Summit
* Polynesian Leaders Group
* South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone
* South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
* Small Island Developing States
* South Centre

North–South
divide

* Brandt Report
* Global financial system
* International Monetary Fund
* World Bank
* World Trade Organization
* Fair trade
* Financial regulation
* Global digital divide

* v
* t
* e

Power in international relations

| Types|

* Climate
* Economic
* Energy
* Food
* Hard
* Maritime
* National
* Politics
* Realpolitik
* Sharp
* Smart
* Soft

|

Status|

* Small
* Middle
* Regional
* Emerging
* Great (Least Great)
* Super (Potential)

Geopolitics|

* African
* American (Pax)
* Asian
* Chinese
* Indian
* Pacific

History|

* List of ancient great powers
* List of medieval great powers
* List of modern great powers
* International relations (1814–1919)

Theory|

* American decline
* Balance of power
* European
* Deterrence theory
* Hegemonic stability theory
* Internationalism
* Multilateralism
* Philosophy of power
* Polarity
* Power projection
* Power transition theory
* Second Superpower
* Sphere of influence
* Superpower collapse
* Superpower disengagement

Studies|

* Composite Index of National Capability
* Comprehensive National Power

Organizations and groups by region

| Africa|

* African Union
* Union for the Mediterranean

|

Africa–Asia|

* Arab League
* Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC)
* Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

Americas|

* Association of Caribbean States (ACS)
* Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
* Central American Integration System (SICA)
* Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC)
* Mercosur
* North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
* Organization of American States (OAS)
* Union of South American Nations (UNASUR)

Asia|

* Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD)
* Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
* Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
* Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC)
* Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA)
* Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO)
* South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
* Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
* Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS)

Europe|

* Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation
* Council of Europe (CoE)
* European Political Community (EPC)
* European Union (EU)
* Nordic Council
* Visegrád Group (V4)

Eurasia|

* Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
* Community for Democracy and Rights of Nations
* Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)
* Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO)
* Eurasian Economic Union (EaEU)
* Organization of Turkic States

North America–Europe|

* Arctic Council
* North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

Africa–Asia–Europe|

* Union for the Mediterranean

Africa–South America|

* South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone

Oceania–Pacific|

* Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
* Australia–New Zealand–United States Security Treaty (ANZUS)
* Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG)
* Pacific Islands Forum (PIF)
* Polynesian Leaders Group (PLG)

Non–regional|

* Brazil–Russia–India–China–South Africa (BRICS)
* Commonwealth of Nations
* Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries
* E9
* G4
* G7
* G8
* G8+5
* G20
* G24
* G77
* India–Brazil–South Africa Dialogue Forum (IBSA)
* Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)
* Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
* Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF)
* Uniting for Consensus (UfC)

Global|

* United Nations (UN)

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* Germany
* United States
* France
* BnF data
* Australia
* Czech Republic
* Spain
* Norway
* Latvia
* Sweden
* Poland
* Vatican
* Israel
* Catalonia

Other|

* IdRef
* Yale LUX

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template