What is AU? What Has it Achieved so Far?

The African Union (AU) is an intergovernmental organization consisting of 55 member states and is located on the African continent. It was officially launched on July 9, 2002, in Durban and its historical origins go back to the 1960s when the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was first established. 

Why Was the AU Formed?

The OAU was an intergovernmental organization too whose objective was to foster unity among the African nations and resolve issues that arise through collective efforts. Its primary focus was to liberate colonized nations in the continent. To accomplish this goal, OAU mustered diplomatic backing as well as offered logical assistance to liberation movements throughout Africa. 

The efforts of OAU helped many African nations to attain independence from their European colonial rulers in the subsequent years. Unfortunately, the organization experienced major shortcomings and was unable to boost political as well as economic integration amongst its member countries. For this reason, they arrived at a decision in the mid-1990s to reform OAU which resulted in the establishment of the AU. 

Objectives of AU

• Unlike the OAU, the AU focuses its efforts and resources towards accomplishing enhanced unity and solidarity among African nations and their people. Their primary objective is to quicken the political and socio-economic integration of the continent. 
• Also, AU tackles the intricate array of social, political, and economic issues that have been encountered by the African nations. Its major objectives also incorporate the promotion of peace, stability, and complete security throughout the region. In addition to this, safeguarding and encouraging human rights are part of its agenda too. 

Achievements of AU

• Numerous AU’s peacekeeping missions, no doubt, have played an important role in helping governments tackle terrorism throughout Africa from the region of Sahel to northern Mozambique
• The organization’s interventions over the years have effectively averted violence in different countries such as Burundi, Comoros, Somalia, the Central African Republic, Sudan, Mali, and South Sudan
• Another accomplishment of the organization is the launch of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) which became operational in year 2021. AFCFTA stands as the world’s largest new free trade area since the inception of the World Trade Organization in the year 1994. 
• The main aim of AFCFTA is to surge intra-African trade by fostering deeper levels of trade liberalization as well as improving regular harmonization and coordination. As per the estimates by the World Bank, AFCFTA will raise African income by $450 billion by the year 2035 and intra-African exports by more than 81%. 

Takeaway

Lastly, the AU has the capacity to be the driving force for a positive transformation across the continent and its constant efforts to encourage peace, development, and stability will play a vital role in shaping the complete Africa’s future.