International Organisation II: African Union – SS3 Government Lesson Note (First Term)

The African Union (A.U) is an organisation of African states, set up in July 2002 in Durban, South Africa, to replace the Organisation of African Unity (O.A.U). It aims to promote democracy and human rights, end wars and conflicts, defeat poverty, disease and ignorance, and bring about political, economic and social integration among member states.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• give a brief history of the formation of the African Union;
• state the membership of the A.U and how it differs from the O.A.U;
• list the aims and objectives of the A.U;
• state the locations of the institutions decided on by the Assembly of the A.U;
• state the proposed achievements of the A.U.

How was the African Union formed?

The African Union was established on Monday 8th of July 2002 by African Heads of State in Durban, South Africa. This marked the end of the Organisation of African Unity (O.A.U) after 39 years of its existence.

The formation of the African Union (A.U) was initiated by the Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi, who first proposed it as a full-blown “United States of Africa.” The 37th summit of the Organisation of African Unity (O.A.U), held from 9th to 13th July 2001, was when the protocol establishing the A.U was signed. The summit was held in Lome, Togo, and it was the last summit of the O.A.U.

Membership

The African Union has 53 members, which include every African nation except Morocco. Morocco withdrew from the O.A.U in 1985 after the admission of Western Sahara into the O.A.U. The A.U has the power to interfere in the internal affairs of members, unlike the O.A.U.

What are the aims and objectives of the African Union?

1. To promote democracy and fundamental human rights.
2. To facilitate economic development in Africa.
3. To end the senseless wars and conflicts causing so much pain and suffering to Africa.
4. To defeat poverty, disease and ignorance in the continent.
5. To promote deep and strong political, economic and social integration among member states.
6. To introduce a single currency for the African continent.

What is the structure of the African Union?

The African Union is patterned loosely on the European Union and embodies a similar aim of continental integration.

The 4th ordinary session of the Assembly of the African Union (A.U) made the following decisions on the location of its institutions:

1. African Parliament: to be located in South Africa.
2. African Central Bank: in West Africa.
3. African Investment Bank: in North Africa.
4. African Monetary Fund: in Central Africa.
5. African Court of Justice: in East Africa.

What are the proposed achievements of the African Union?

1. Regional economic co-operation, which can also bring about infrastructural development in areas like transport, communications and energy which would otherwise be too expensive for some

Evaluation

Questions on the lesson

1. Give a brief history of the A.U’s formation.
2. Give 4 aims and objectives of the A.U.

General evaluation and revision questions

1. State the proposed achievements of the African Union.
2. Describe the pre-colonial administration in Yoruba land.
3. What functions did age grades perform in Igboland?
4. Compare the Igbo pre-colonial system of government with the Hausa pre-colonial political system.

Assignment

Reading assignment

1. Comprehensive Government by J.U Anyaele, pages 225 to 228.
2. Essential Government by C.C Dibie, pages 245 to 247.

Weekend assignment

1. The African Union was established in —— (a) July 2002 (b) July 2001 (c) July 2003
2. The formation of the African Union was initiated by ——- (a) Olusegun Obasanjo (b) Muammar Gadhafi (c) Thabo Mbeki
3. The African Union is made up of —— members (a) 52 (b) 54 (c) 53
4. The following are the aims of the African Union except ——- (a) To promote democracy (b) To eradicate poverty (c) To promote colonialism
5. The following are organs of the A.U except ——- (a) The Trusteeship Council (b) The Commission (c) The Executive Council

Theory

1. What are the proposed achievements of the A.U?
2. List and explain the organs of the A.U.