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All the Treaties adopted by the African Union can be accessed here.

All the decisions and declarations adopted by the African Union can be accessed here.

The jurisprudence of the African Court of Human and People's Rights can be accessed here .

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The construction of the African Union

On September 9th, 1999, the heads of State and Government, members of the Organisation of the African Unity met in Libya and adopted the Sirte Declaration. It aimed to dissolve the Organisation and replace it with the African Union, which aim would be to continue and accelerate the process of integrating economies on a continental scale while emphasizing social and cultural aspects specific to Africa.

The construction of the Union continued with the adoption of the Constitutive Treaty (Lome Summit of 2000), the transition schedule and the launching of its activities (Lusaka Summit of  2001) and the first general assembly of Heads of State and Government (Durban Summit of 2002).

The organs of the African Union

The Constitutive Act lists the operating organs of the Union:

  1. The Conference: made up of Heads of State and Government, it is the supreme organ of the Union. It meets in ordinary session at least once a year;
  2. The Executive Council: made up of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs or any other authority designated by the Member States. It meets at least twice a year in ordinary session. The Executive Council is responsible to the Assembly;
  3. The Specialised Technical Committees: created and supervised by the Executive Council, the committees work on specific sectoral issues;
  4. The Panafrican Parliament: body designed to represent the populations of the continent;
  5. The African Court of Human and People’s Rights: judicial body of the Union;
  6. The Financial Institutions: the African Central bank, the African Monetary Fund and the African Investment Bank were created and governed by the related protocols;
  7. The Commission: acts as the Secretary of the Union, it is made up of the President, Vice-President(s) and Commissioner(s). Its structure and attributions are determined by the Conference;
  8. The Permanent Representatives’ Committee: charged with the responsibility of  preparing the work of the Executive Council.
  9. The Economic, Social and Cultural Council: an advisory organ composed of  different social and professional groups of the Member States of the Union. Its missions and powers are defined by the Conference.

“An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa,  driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in  global arena.”

The Agenda 2063

Presented during the Solemn Declaration of the 50th anniversary of the Golden Jubilee of the OAU/AU in May 2013 as a ”concrete manifestation of the pan-African drive for unity, self-determination, freedom, progress and collective prosperity pursued under Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance”, the Agenda 2063 defines a long term trajectory for the continent.

Among the main goals, we can highlight the eradication of poverty over the next decades, housing for all in a safe and healthy environment, access to education, inter-connectivity, protection of the environment and the sensible and concerted exploitation of natural resources.

To learn more about the goals set by the Conference, click here.

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