Umoja waAfrica (African Union)

Background

“The African Union (AU) is a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African Continent. It was officially launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU, 1963-1999). In May 1963, 32 Heads of independent African States met in Addis Ababa Ethiopia to sign the Charter creating Africa’s first post-independence continental institution, The Organisation of African Unity (OAU). The OAU was the manifestation of the pan-African vision for an Africa that was united, free and in control of its own destiny and this was solemnised in the OAU Charter in which the founding fathers recognised that freedom, equality, justice and dignity were essential objectives for the achievement of the legitimate aspirations of the African peoples and that there was a need to promote understanding among Africa’s peoples and foster cooperation among African states in response to the aspirations of Africans for brother-hood and solidarity, in a larger unity transcending ethnic and national Differences. The guiding philosophy was that of Pan-Africanism which centred on African socialism and promoted African unity, the communal characteristic and practices of African communities, and a drive to embrace Africa’s culture and common heritage.” Read more.

Websites

https://au.int

Symbols

Anthem

The African anthem was composed by Ethiopian poet Tsegaye Gabre-Medhin as a poem. In 1986, it was adopted as the African anthem by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the predecessor of the AU. In 2002, at the formation of the AU, the anthem was continued. The music was composed by Arthur Mudogo Kemoli, a Kenyan, in 1986. It tells the African history of struggle, independence, liberation, labour, unity, justice and hope.

How to cite it:

African Union (AU) (2002). Let as all unite and celebrate together. Anthem. Addis Ababa: AU.

Gabre-Medhin, T. (1966). Proud to be African. Poem. Addis Ababa: Tsegaye Gabre-Medhin

Anthem in Swahili (audiovisual with lyrics)

AU Building/head quarters (HQ)

The AU HQ is in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Agenda 2063

Agenda2063: https://au.int/en/agenda2063/overview

The Pan African Vision

An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens, representing a dynamic force in the international arena.

“As an affirmation of their commitment to support Africa’s new path for attaining inclusive and sustainable economic growth and development African heads of state and government signed the 50^th Anniversary Solemn Declaration during the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the formation of the OAU /AU in May 2013. The declaration marked the re-dedication of Africa towards the attainment of the Pan African Vision of An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens, representing a dynamic force in the international arena and Agenda 2063 is the concrete manifestation of how the continent intends to achieve this vision within a 50 year period from 2013 to 2063. The Africa of the future was captured in a letter presented by the former Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma”

The 7 Aspirations

The Agenda is the plan of the AU for 50 years from 2013 to 2063. The agenda has seven (7) aspirations that respond to Africa’s problems as follows:

1. A prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development
2. An integrated continent politically united and based on the ideals of Pan-Africanism and the vision of African Renaissance
3. An Africa of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law
4. A peaceful and secure Africa
5. Africa with a strong cultural identity common heritage, values and ethics
6. An Africa whose development is people-driven, relying on the potential offered by the African people, especially its women and youth, and caring for children
7. An Africa as a strong, united, resilient and influential global player and partner

Aspirations: https://au.int/en/agenda2063/aspirations

The 20 Goals

Agenda 2063 seeks to deliver on a set of Seven Aspirations each with its own set of goals which if achieved will move Africa closer to achieving its vision for the year 2063. These 7 Aspirations reflect our desire for shared prosperity and well-being, for unity and integration, for a continent of free citizens and expanded horizons, where the full potential of women and youth are realised, and with freedom from fear, disease and want.

Aspiration 1: A prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development

We are determined to eradicate poverty in one generation and build shared prosperity through social and economic transformation of the continent.

Goals:

1. A high standard of living, quality of life and well-being for all
   • ending poverty, inequalities of income and opportunity; job creation, especially addressing youth unemployment; facing up to the challenges of rapid population growth and urbanization, improvement of habitats and access to basic necessities of life – water, sanitation, electricity; providing social security and protection;
2. Well educated citizens and skills revolutions underpinned by science, technology and innovation
   • developing Africa’s human and social capital (through an education and skills revolution emphasizing science and technology)
3. Healthy and well-nourished citizens
   • expanding access to quality health care services, particularly for women and girls;
4. Transformed economies and jobs
   • transforming Africa’s economies through beneficiation from Africa’s natural resources, manufacturing, industrialization and value addition, as well as raising productivity and competitiveness
5. Modern agriculture for increased proactivity and production
   • radically transforming African agriculture to enable the continent to feed itself and be a major player as a net food exporter;
6. Blue/Ocean Economy for accelerated economic growth
   • exploiting the vast potential of Africa’s blue/ocean economy;
7. Environmentally sustainable climate and resilient economies and communities
   • putting in place measures to sustainably manage the continent’s rich biodiversity, forests, land and waters and using mainly adaptive measures to address climate change risks

Aspiration 2: An integrated continent, politically united and based on the ideals of Pan-Africanism and the vision of Africa’s Renaissance

Since 1963, the quest for African Unity has been inspired by the spirit of Pan Africanism, focusing on liberation, and political and economic independence. It is motivated by development based on self-reliance and self-determination of African people, with democratic and people-centred governance.

Goals:

1. United Africa (Federal/Confederate)
   • accelerating progress towards continental unity and integration for sustained growth, trade, exchanges of goods, services, free movement of people and capital through establishing a United Africa and fast tracking economic integration through the of the CFTA
2. World class infrastructure criss-crosses Africa
   • improving connectivity through newer and bolder initiatives to link the continent by rail, road, sea and air; and developing regional and continental power pools, as well as ICT
3. Decolonisation
   • All remnants of colonialism will have ended and all African territories under occupation fully liberated. We shall take measures to expeditiously end the unlawful occupation of the Chagos Archipelago, the Comorian Island of Mayotte and affirming the right to self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.

Aspiration 3: An Africa of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law

An Africa of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law.

Africa shall have a universal culture of good governance, democratic values, gender equality, and respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law.

Goals:

1. Democratic values, practices, universal principles for human rights, justice and rule of law entrenched
   • consolidating democratic gains and improving the quality of governance, respect for human rights and the rule of law;
2. Capable institutions and transformed leadership in place at all levels
   • building strong institutions for a development state; and facilitating the emergence of development-oriented and visionary leadership in all spheres and at all levels.

Aspiration 4: A peaceful and secure Africa

Mechanisms for peaceful prevention and resolution of conflicts will be functional at all levels. As a first step, dialogue-centred conflict prevention and resolution will be actively promoted in such a way that by 2020 all guns will be silent. A culture of peace and tolerance shall be nurtured in Africa’s children and youth through peace education.

Goals:

1. Peace security and stability is preserved
   • strengthening governance, accountability and transparency as a foundation for a peaceful Africa;
2. A stable and peaceful Africa
   • strengthening mechanisms for securing peace and reconciliation at all levels, as well as addressing emerging threats to Africa’s peace and security
3. A fully functional and operational APSA
   • putting in place strategies for the continent to finance her security needs.

Aspiration 5: An Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, shared values and ethics

Pan-Africanism and the common history, destiny, identity, heritage, respect for religious diversity and consciousness of African people’s and her diaspora’s will be entrenched.

Goal:

1. Africa cultural renaissance is pre-eminent
   • inculcating the spirit of Pan Africanism; tapping Africa’s rich heritage and culture to ensure that the creative arts are major contributors to Africa’s growth and transformation; and restoring and preserving Africa’s cultural heritage, including its languages.

Aspiration 6: An Africa, whose development is people-driven, relying on the potential of African people, especially its women and youth, and caring for children.

All the citizens of Africa will be actively involved in decision making in all aspects. Africa shall be an inclusive continent where no child, woman or man will be left behind or excluded, on the basis of gender, political affiliation, religion, ethnic affiliation, locality, age or other factors.

Goals:

1. Full gender equality in all spheres of life
   • strengthening the role of Africa’s women through ensuring gender equality and parity in all spheres of life (political, economic and social); eliminating all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls;
2. Engaged and empowered youth and children
   • creating opportunities for Africa’s youth for self-realisation, access to health, education and jobs; ensuring safety and security for Africa’s children, and providing for early childhood development.

Aspiration 7: Africa as a strong, united, resilient and influential global player and partner. 

Africa shall be a strong, united, resilient, peaceful and influential global player and partner with a significant role in world affairs. We affirm the importance of African unity and solidarity in the face of continued external interference including, attempts to divide the continent and undue pressures and sanctions on some countries.

Goals:

1. Africa as a major partner in global affairs and peaceful co-existence
   • improving Africa’s place in the global governance system (UN Security Council, financial institutions, global commons such as outer space);
2. Africa takes full responsibility for financing her development
   • improving Africa’s partnerships and refocusing them more strategically to respond to African priorities for growth and transformation; and ensuring that the continent has the right strategies to finance its own development and reducing aid dependency.

Email from the future

Email from the future (English): https://au.int/sites/default/files/documents/33126-doc-02_email_from_the_future.pdf

Email for the future (French): https://au.int/sites/default/files/documents/33122-doc-02_email_from_the_future_french.pdf

Flagship projects

https://au.int/en/agenda2063/flagship-projects

The AU has social programs and therefore employs or uses the services of social workers. A social worker working with the AU is basically doing continental social work.  The continent is divided into regions, with regional institutions where social workers are also employed. A region includes a collection of countries that are geographically connected.

Regions of Africa

Africa is divided into five regions: East, South, West, Central and North. The regional organisation for all these regions is the African Union (AU) with 55 countries.

East Africa Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia

Southern Africa Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Eswatini (which decolonised it name from Swaziland in 2018), Zambia, Zimbabwe

West Africa Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte D’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.

Central Africa Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo Republic – Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and São Tomé & Principe.

North Africa Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Sudan and Tunisia

Regional economic communities (RECs)

There are regional economic communities (RECs) and regional mechanisms (RMs).

• Arab Maghreb Union (UMA)
• Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)
• Community of Sahel–Saharan States (CEN–SAD)
• 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).