African Union (AU): Formation, Objectives, Structure & More | UPSC Notes

The African Union is a continental union that consists of 55 countries in Africa, and it was established for the promotion of African unity and solidarity. Anchored on the promotion of citizen inclusion and sustainable development, the AU is intended to drive growth and economic development in Africa. A core international organization in African relations, the AU plays a leading role in political, social, and economic development within the continent.

This topic is related to the General Studies Paper II of the UPSC examination, which includes international relations, bilateral agreements, and regional organizations. The given topic is very important to understand the details regarding the African Union for the topics pertinent to India-Africa relations, regional cooperation, and global institutions.

About the African Union

The African Union that came into place on July 9, 2002, in Durban, South Africa, replaced the Organisation of African Unity for better unity to promote peace and development on the entire continent. It comprises 55 member states and aims at speeding up socioeconomic integration, maintaining peace and security, safeguarding sovereignty, and advancing human rights. It has a well-structured organization comprising the Assembly of Heads of State, the Executive Council, and the AU Commission. Simultaneously, it has also released other flagship projects such as AfCFTA and Africa CDC that clearly indicate its strong commitment to the economy and health security of the continent. With the rebel groups' ability to restrain financial dependency, institutional inefficiency, and regional conflicts, the AU still plays a very significant role in African solidarity and development.

Formation of the African Union

Officially launched in Durban, South Africa, on July 9, 2002, the African Union replaced the Organisation of African Unity, which had been established on May 25, 1963. Its core mandate had been ridding the continent of the remaining vestiges of colonization and apartheid, while promoting unity and solidarity amongst African states. But as time went on, it was understood that there was a need for an effective organization with greater capacity to handle the challenges of the contemporary world and foster more massive economic integration. In this view, the AU was established with broader terms of reference to pursue more rapid socio-economic integration and sustainable development.

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Objectives of the African Union

The objectives of the African Union, as stated in the Constitutive Act of the Union, are :

• Achieve Greater Unity and Solidarity: In the perspective view, it has one of the most important objectives to enhance unity and solidarity among the African countries and the African people.
• Defend Sovereignty: The AU is committed to defending the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of its member states.
• Acceleration of Political and Socio-Economic Integration: The AU aims at accelerating the political and socio-economic integration process on the continent to make it united and sustainable.
• Ensure Peace, Security, and Stability: These are preconditions for development to take place on the continent, through the promotion of peace, security, and stability.
• Develop Conditions for Sustainable Development: This would be to ensure sustainable development of the continent in order to improve living standards.
• Promote and Protect Human Rights: The AU is committed to promoting and protecting human and peoples' rights in conformity with the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.
• Increase Economic Development: This involves fostering international cooperation and collective action towards achieving higher economic development for all its members.

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Structure of the African Union

The organizational structure of the African Union is guided by such a framework that helps in effective governance, strategic decision-making, and implementation of goals set before it. In order to ensure this, it has been divided into the following:

The Assembly of the African Union

Heads of State and Government of member states. It is the highest decision-making body, which meets annually to adopt policies and define the priorities of the Union.

Executive Council

Composed of Ministers of Foreign Affairs or other designated ministers from member states. The council prepares material for the Assembly; it coordinates policies and makes recommendations on issues of common interest.

The AU Commission

It serves as the secretariat of the AU through which activities and meetings of the organization are conducted and coordinated. These are various portfolios, including Peace and Security, Political Affairs, Infrastructure and Energy, Economic Affairs, among others.

The Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC)

Consists of permanent representatives of the Union and is responsible for preparing the work for the Executive Council.

Specialized Technical Committees (STCs)

These committees deal with selected sectors such as Agriculture, Trade, Health, and Education. They develop recommendations and policies for the AU.

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Achievements of the African Union

Since its inception, the African Union has reached some key milestones in promoting integration, stability, and development across the continent. Some of those milestones include:

• Peace and Security Initiatives: The AU has helped in finding solutions to conflicts and peace programs in Sudan, Darfur, Somalia, and recently Sahel. To this effect, the Peace and Security Council plays a prime role.
• Economic Integration: Initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA, effective from January 2021, aimed at expanding intra-African trade by removing tariffs and building a single huge market.
• Health Initiatives: Establishment of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Africa CDC, which was very instrumental in coordinating the continent's response to health emergencies like COVID-19.

In addition, the AU has enacted normative frameworks on issues of governance and human rights such as the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and also the APRM.

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Challenges Faced by the African Union

Against such notable milestones, the African Union still grapples with a number of challenges that hinder the performance of its work:

• Financial Dependence: It is a fact that a big chunk of the AU's budget is supplied by external donors-a situation that raises several concerns with respect to dependence and autonomy.
• Weakening of Institutions: AU institutions breed inefficiency and bureaucratic delays that impede decision-making and the efficacious execution of policy.
• Political Instability: Protracted conflicts and political instability in recent times in countries such as Libya, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic pose some real tests.
• Disparate Economic Development: Variations in economic development across the membership make the integration and efficacious policy execution task uniform.
• External Influence: Geopolitical dynamics and influence from non-African countries may impact the potential of the AU to operate independently and truly focus on African agendas.

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India and the African Union

The partnership between India and the African Union is strong and pegged on a historical relationship, common interests, and mutual respect. The bilateral relationship has grown phenomenally through high-level visits, strategic dialogues, and considerable development assistance.

• Trade and Investment: India continues to be one of Africa's largest trading partners. In 2021-22, bilateral trade accounted for US$ 66.7 billion. Indian investments in Africa have been made across a wide range of fields, such as pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, and energy.
• Development Assistance: The country has provided both financial and technical development assistance to the other continent in a wide range of areas including agriculture, healthcare, and capacity building.
• People-to-People Links: Scholarships and various educational initiatives for African students in Indian institutions have strengthened people-to-people links.
• Collaborative Initiatives: Mechanisms like the India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) provide a platform for cooperation in the entire spectrum of political, economic, and social sectors.

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