The African Union (AU) is a continental union consisting of African nations, established to promote unity, economic development, and cooperation among member states. While the AU includes the majority of African countries, not all nations are members.
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History Of The African Union
Its history goes back to Africa’s struggles for independence. The idea of the AU started with the First Congress of Independent African States in Accra, Ghana, in 1958.
This event brought African nations together to promote solidarity and stand against colonial rule. It also introduced Africa Day, a yearly celebration of the continent’s liberation and hopes for self-determination.
Later, on May 25, 1963, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was created in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The OAU started with 32 independent African nations and focused on unity and protecting their sovereignty.
However, the OAU faced criticism for not addressing human rights abuses within its member states. Some even called it the “Dictators’ Club” because it avoided taking action against oppressive governments.
By the 1990s, dissatisfaction with the OAU’s effectiveness grew, and leaders began discussing the need for a stronger organization. Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi pushed for the idea of a new African Union.
In 1999, during a summit in Libya, the Sirte Declaration officially proposed the creation of the AU. This led to the drafting of a new framework, and in 2000, the Constitutive Act of the African Union was adopted. The AU was formally launched on July 9, 2002, in Durban, South Africa, with Thabo Mbeki as its first chairperson.
Since then, the AU has worked on several key initiatives, including peacekeeping missions, creating a Pan-African Parliament, and setting up the African Standby Force. In 2015, it launched Agenda 2063, a plan to transform Africa into a global economic powerhouse.
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Which Countries Are Part Of The African Union?
The African Union (AU) consists of 55 member countries. Below is a comprehensive list of these member states:
No | Region | Member State | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Central Africa | Republic of Burundi | Burundi |
2 | Republic of Cameroon | Cameroon |
|
3 | Central African Republic | Central African Republic |
|
4 | Republic of Chad | Chad |
|
5 | Republic of the Congo | Congo Republic |
|
6 | Democratic Republic of Congo | DR Congo |
|
7 | Republic of Equatorial Guinea | Equatorial Guinea |
|
8 | Gabonese Republic | Gabon |
|
9 | Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe | São Tomé and Príncipe |
|
10 | Eastern Africa | Union of the Comoros | Comoros |
11 | Republic of Djibouti | Djibouti |
|
12 | State of Eritrea | Eritrea |
|
13 | Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia | Ethiopia |
|
14 | Republic of Kenya | Kenya |
|
15 | Republic of Madagascar | Madagascar |
|
16 | Republic of Mauritius | Mauritius |
|
17 | Republic of Rwanda | Rwanda |
|
18 | Republic of Seychelles | Seychelles |
|
19 | Federal Republic of Somalia | Somalia |
|
20 | Republic of South Sudan | South Sudan |
|
21 | Republic of the Sudan | Sudan |
|
22 | United Republic of Tanzania | Tanzania |
|
23 | Republic of Uganda | Uganda |
|
24 | Northern Africa | People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria | Algeria |
25 | Arab Republic of Egypt | Egypt |
|
26 | Libya | Libya |
|
27 | Islamic Republic of Mauritania | Mauritania |
|
28 | Kingdom of Morocco | Morocco |
|
29 | Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic | Sahrawi Republic |
|
30 | Republic of Tunisia | Tunisia |
|
31 | Southern Africa | Republic of Angola | Angola |
32 | Republic of Botswana | Botswana |
|
33 | Kingdom of Eswatini | Eswatini |
|
34 | Kingdom of Lesotho | Lesotho |
|
35 | Republic of Malawi | Malawi |
|
36 | Republic of Mozambique | Mozambique |
|
37 | Republic of Namibia | Namibia |
|
38 | Republic of South Africa | South Africa |
|
39 | Republic of Zambia | Zambia |
|
40 | Republic of Zimbabwe | Zimbabwe |
|
41 | Western Africa | Republic of Benin | Benin |
42 | Burkina Faso | Burkina Faso |
|
43 | Republic of Cabo Verde | Cabo Verde |
|
44 | Republic of Côte d’Ivoire | Côte d’Ivoire |
|
45 | Republic of the Gambia | Gambia |
|
46 | Republic of Ghana | Ghana |
|
47 | Republic of Guinea | Guinea |
|
48 | Republic of Guinea-Bissau | Guinea-Bissau |
|
49 | Republic of Liberia | Liberia |
|
50 | Republic of Mali | Mali |
|
51 | Republic of Niger | Niger |
|
52 | Federal Republic of Nigeria | Nigeria |
|
53 | Republic of Senegal | Senegal |
|
54 | Republic of Sierra Leone | Sierra Leone |
|
55 | Togolese Republic | Togo |
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Which Countries Are Not Part Of The African Union?
There are a few countries in Africa that are not part of the African Union (AU). One of these is Somaliland. Somaliland declared itself an independent state in 1991 after separating from Somalia.
It has its government and functioning institutions, but it is not recognized as an independent country by the AU or most other countries. The AU still considers it a part of Somalia, which is a member of the AU.
Somaliland applied to join the AU in 2005, but it has not been recognized as a member. Another exception is Western Sahara, which is governed by the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).
Although SADR is a member of the AU, Morocco claims the territory as its own and withdrew from the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1984 because of SADR’s membership.
The conflict over Western Sahara remains unresolved, with Morocco controlling most of the area while SADR controls only a small part. The AU supports SADR’s right to self-determination, which causes tensions with Morocco.
Some countries are also temporarily suspended from the AU due to political instability or military coups. For example, Mali, Guinea, Sudan, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Gabon have faced suspensions at different times due to such events.
These countries are still technically part of the AU, but their membership has been put on hold while the AU deals with the political situations in these countries.
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Who Is The 55th Member Of The African Union?
The 55th member of the African Union (AU) is Morocco. Morocco officially rejoined the AU on January 31, 2017. This was a notable event in the history of the AU, as Morocco had withdrawn from the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the AU’s predecessor, in 1984.
The reason for this withdrawal was the OAU’s decision to admit the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), which claims sovereignty over Western Sahara.
Morocco considers Western Sahara to be part of its territory and does not agree with the OAU’s decision. In 2016, after many years of absence, Morocco decided to reapply for membership in the AU.
It formally submitted its request to join, and in January 2017, the AU accepted Morocco’s application. By joining the AU, Morocco was able to improve its regional influence and create stronger ties with other African countries.
Despite the ongoing dispute over Western Sahara, Morocco’s re-entry into the African Union allowed for greater cooperation on different issues like trade, security, and development across the continent.