THE ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY (OAU) TO AFRICAN UNION (AU) THE JOURNEY SO FAR
CHAPTER ONE
ISSUES AND REASONS FOR REGIONAL INTEGRATIONS
1.1 Introduction
Regional integration is not a new idea or initiative in Africa. Along with the creation of African common market it has been fueling division of African leaders
for the past 45 decade. In fact, the creation of the organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1964 reflected the awareness, by the leaders of the day that Africans
strength was rooted in Pan-Africa cooperation.1 The Southern Rhodesia Custom Union was established in 1949 and the East African community in 1967(Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania). 2 So far, United Africa has a long history and is the unique product of social and cultural attitude of Africa, today, the African Union (AU) is an entity that continues to work for the integration in the continent to enable it plays its rightful role in the global economy while
addressing multi-faceted socio-economic and political problem. The advent of the Organization now known (AU) is described as an advent of great
magnitude in the institutional evolution of the continent.3
In a 1959, speech from Kwame Nkrumah, Ideological father of the African Union. He stated that in Ghana, we regard our independence as meaningless unless
we are able to use the freedom that goes with it to help other African people to be free and independent, to liberate the entire continent of Africa from foreign
dehumanization and ultimately to establish a union of African state. 4”Of all sins Africa can commit, the sins of despair will be most unforgivable……..unity
will not make us rich, but it can make it difficult
for –Africa and the African people to be disregarded and humiliated——My generation led Africa to political freedom. The current generation of leadership and people of Africa must pick up the flickering touch of African freedom to refuel it with their enthusiasm and
determination, and carry it forward” 5 (President Nyerere, former President of Tanzania at the 40th anniversary of Ghana’s independent,1997)
The historical foundations of African Union originated in the union of African States. The Organization of African Unity (OAU) was established on May 25th
1963. 6 It remained the collective voice for the continent until 2002.The intended purpose of the OAU was to promote the unity and solidarity of the African
States in a time of independent movements. The OAU also aimed to ensure that all African States enjoy human right, raise the living standard of all Africans
and settle arguments and dispute between member states. 7
In the charter of the Organization of African Unity adopted in 1963 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, African States became committed to work together to coordinate
and intensify their cooperation and sort to achieve a better life for the people of Africa. The OAU Struggle to enforce its decision and its lack of an army made it difficult to intervene in civil wars and countries struggling with colonialism. The policy of non-interference in the arias of member states also restricted the OAU in achieving its goals. Consensus was difficult to achieve within the organization. The French colonies, the Pro-capitalist and the Pro socialist faction during the cold war, all had their agenda and made it very difficult
to reach an agreement on what had to be done. Through the difficulties
and struggles the OAU endured, it still provides a forum that enabled member states to adopt coordinated positions on the matter of common concern. For
example, through the OAU coordinating committee for the liberation of Africa, the organization worked and succeeded in forging a consensus in support of liberation struggle and the fight against apartheid.
