- The primary purpose of the OAU was to promote the unity and solidarity of newly independent African states.
- Agenda 2063 is an economic master plan to transform Africa into a global powerhouse within the next decades.
- The AfCFTA is the world’s largest free trade area that unites an entire continent and eight Regional Economic Communities.
Every year on 25th May, the world celebrates Africa Day, a special occasion that commemorates the foundation of the continent’s most development-oriented organization, the African Union.
African Union has been advocating for continuous economic development and has achieved notable milestones. To commemorate Africa Day, we shall be taking you down memory lane highlighting AU’s role in championing the continent’s growth.
Flashback: the journey to Africa Day
At the height of political and social freedom, 32 African countries met on 25th May 1963 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to form a front for economic and political growth for the entire continent. United by a common goal, they formed the Organisation of African Unity (OAU).
The primary purpose of the OAU was to promote Africa’s unity and solidarity. At the time, most of its members were fresh out of gaining their independence, and many were under pressure of revitalizing their political and economic growth.
It was therefore OAU’s role to coordinate and intensify the cooperation to ensure each African state can achieve a far better life without facing the tyranny of their oppressors. The OAU’s ultimate objective was to lead one of the world’s most significant forces; a united Africa. Their zeal and passion led to 21 members joining, totalling 53 countries. South Sudan remains the youngest member since gaining independence in 2011.
Fortunately, the OAU sought collaboration from international organisations. During the 20th Session of the General Assembly in 1965, the UN voted to invite the OAU to attend its session as an observer. Within three years, OAU solidified its mission and had several members as UN member states.
They included Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, Gambia, Botswana and Lesotho. At inception Ambassador Mamadou Moctar Thiam of Mali became the first OAU permanent observer to the UN, serving for four years from 1968 to 1972.
OAU’s transition to AU
Thiam’s position significantly aided in the development of the OAU. His influence and role inspired other African states to join the OAU. As time progressed and the new era of the 2000s came, it became clear that the OAU had served its purpose of uniting Africa. It needed to transition into a more specific role. Libyan leader Muammar al-Qaddafi proposed that the OAU transition into a more economically inclined organisation, the African Union.
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On 16th May 2001, two-thirds of the OAU members supported the comprehensive objectives of the AU. They believed it would lead to Africa’s economic development. After achieving its united front in July 2001, the OAU transitioned into the AU, which would actively deal with Africa’s financial instability. In 2004 the AU’s Pan-African Parliament was inaugurated.
African Union milestones
Throughout its years as the OAU and the AU, their objectives have all revolved around ensuring Africa’s economic and political developments. Initially, the OAU desired to present a United Africa to ease the burden of establishing functional government within various countries.
It gained immense capabilities, support, and financing after transitioning to the African Union. It is important to remember that as the AU, to ensure Africa’s economic development, the organization had to have some leverage on its political and Social stability.
As a result, according to the AU Constitutive ACT OF 2000, the funds allowed the African Union to interfere with the internal affairs of its members. The organization could halt political instability, stop egregious human rights abuses, and sanction military coup d’etat if needed.
This considerably gave power to the AU and ensured that each country would pull its weight and keep any “malicious” instigators in check. In some ways, the African Union became a similar organization to the UN, only dedicated to the continent.
One of the few challenges within Africa is its internal strife. Civil war and coups are a common sight within the continent. Only a few African countries have yet to experience one, significantly highlighting how political instability affects Africa’s economic development.
Read: Is the AU enabling the destabilization of Africa one country at a time?
During its 50th Anniversary, the organisation issued the “Silencing the Gun BY 2020“ initiative. This new memorandum dated that Africa would not bequeath the burden of conflict to the next generation. It made commitments to end the violent confrontation on the continent.
Africa’s political instability challenges
The AU has interviewed various political instability issues in several countries. They include; Togo, Mauritania, Madagascar, Niger, Egypt, Sudan, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mali and Burkina Faso.
The AU has directly benefited Africa’s economic development within the public and private sectors. On February 2002, the AU championed a 10-year continental declaration focusing on gender equality and women’s empowerment. The Decade of Women’s Financial and Economic Inclusion has pioneered various women-focused programmes.
Since its establishment, the AU has significantly contributed to Africa’s highest women entrepreneurship rate worldwide. Furthermore, they launched the African Economic Platform as a multi-stakeholder meeting that brings together the African political leadership, private sector, academia and civil society.
Its main goal is accelerating Africa’s economic transformation by harnessing its vast resources while improving its people. The AU is also responsible for developing several financial institutions, such as the African Investment Bank and Pan African Stock Exchange, the African Monetary Fund, and the African Central Bank.
These institutes are pivotal in mobilizing resources and managing Africa’s financial sector. The Economic Affairs Department is a by-product of the organization trying to improve continuous economic integration and private sector development.
There is still more work
The African Union is responsible for multiple reforms within the nation, but it still has a long way to go before completely reforming the continent. To stay true to its goals for Africa, the organization drafted its most ambitious plans yet, Agenda 2063.
Agenda 2063 is a master plan to transform Africa into a global powerhouse within the next few years. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) establishments are within this plan.
Africa holds most of the world’s resources; however, her 1.2 billion population hardly uses them. The bulk of these resources serve other continents, and the AU seeks to change that.
The AfCFTA is the world’s largest free trade area that unites the entire continent and eight regional economic communities. It will power Africa’s $3.4 trillion GDP to new possibilities. The AfCFTA is among the highlights of Agenda 2063 as it essentially realized the vision of both OAU and the AU in developing a united Font for Africa. AfCFTA entered into the picture in 2019 after 24 member nations ratified their membership. To date, only Eritrea is yet to enter into the AfCFTA framework.
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Africa’s agenda 2063
The deal would effectively improve capital flow and enhance harnessing of natural resources within the continent. It would also lay the foundation of a Continental Customs Union. Once established, it would allow Africa to govern its goods and services distribution, rates and prices. Furthermore, it would aid in industrial development through diversification. Each country would have a share in providing and receiving resources to establish an independent network.
The Agenda 2063 also dictate the establishment of an integrated High-Speed Train Network that would interconnect trading regions throughout the continent. This network would serve as the backbone of the AfCFTA agenda.
The African Union also seeks to establish an African Passport that would enable free travel across Africa. South Africa and Kenya have already entered into a bilateral agreement to allow their citizens to tour each other’s country visa free. This initiative will transform Africa’s laws which are currently restrictive.
Finally, the African Union seeks to spear the continent’s digital transformation by establishing the Pan-African E-Network. This would provide an intra-Africa broadband terrestrial nature encompassing the entire continent. If implemented, it would allow every African to access the internet. This would also contribute to finance and inclusion through fintech services. Additionally, it would pave the way for more tech-related startups, currently the continent’s most lucrative venture.
The essence of Africa Day
The Agenda 2063 encompasses numerous feats that are significantly ambitious. Once achieved, the objectives would greatly transform the value chains across economies
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However, the African Union still faces challenges today, such as instability, poor infrastructure and other hurdles. However, its founders created it with a single goal and vision, a United Africa. If Africa ever banded together, we would be forced unrivalled by any other continent. Africa Day is a reminder of this very vision.
