African Union In The Maintenance Of Peace And Security Of African Countries: Challenges And Prospects
Keywords:
African Union, political instability, Organization of African Unity, OAU, establishment, harmonizeAbstract
The African Union by its declaration is committed to the total integration of all African states and unity of action based on shared values and common, development interests and goals. To this end, the challenges facing the African union include the problems of infrastructures and inadequate social services. The African states are plagued by political instability, ethnic conflicts, refugees/ internally displaced persons and fragile civil institutions. These problems are compounded by globalization, New World Order and heavy burden of external debts that make life difficult and the future dim and gloomy. These challenges and struggles by the African leaders to face up to them have precipitated the writing of this research paper. In doing so, the study traced the historical concept, evolution and final emergence of the union. The research project carefully looked into the act establishing the AU and compared with the charter of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and appreciated the necessity of its establishment. The study has noted that AU was modelled after the European Union (EU) and therefore, efforts have been made to study the two unions so that the AU will benefit from the experience of the EU. In concluding the study, it is recommended inter alia that African Union make peace and security a priority and harmonize general policies and Infrastructural development. The hope that this study will contribute its widow's might to the development of AU is imperative. We cannot afford to fail this time, as the consequences are better imagined than experienced.
References
Abubakar A. Jauro (2001). Physical Infrastructural facilities for the African Union - Seminar paper, Abuja (unpublished)
Adebayo Adedeji (2002). A keynote address at the opening of the CAFRAD Conference of Directors of Civil Service in Africa Abuja (Unpublished).
Aribisola Reme (2001). General Infrastructural Development and the African Union - A paper delivered at the National Seminar on African Union, Abuja (Unpublished).
African Development Bank (1999). Economic cooperation and Regional integration policy paper Abuja.
Claude Ake (1981). Political Economy of Africa, Longman, Nigeria. Collin Legun (1962). Pan - Africanism - A short political Guide, Lagos.
Constitutive Act of AU (2000). Lome Information Division, General Secretariat, Addis Ababa. Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999). Lagos Federal Government Press.
Emmanuel Wallerstin (1968). Africa, The politics of Unity: An analysis of a contemporary social movement, London Pall Mall Press.
Federick, H. Hartmann (1978). The Relations of Nations, Fifth Edition New York Macmillan Publishing Company
Fadama Agricultural DEvelopment Export Report (1995). Abuja, Nigeria. General Yakubu Gowon (1973). African Development Lagos.
John Clark (1983). Africa and Development in Abubakar A. Jauro 2001) Physical Infrastructural facilities for the African Union - Seminar paper, Abuja (unpublished)
Kwameh Nkurmah (1963). Africa Must Unite. London: Pall Mall Press. Kwesi Armah (1965). Africa's Golden Road London; Heinemann. Kofi Annan (2002). Thisday of 14th February 2002.
Mohammed Ibrahim in Punch 13th August 2001.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2001). Brief on the African Union. Abuja (Unpublished).
Nwachukwu Ike (1991). Nigeria and the Organization of African Unity. Abuja Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) (2001). A New Initiative Pretoria, South Africa.
OAU Perspective: Third Regular Assembly (1966). Addis Ababa publication of the Ministry of Information, Ethiopia.
Oche Ogbu in Thisday 28 July 2002.
Olukoshi in Daily Times of 20th June 2002, paper presented at African forum Nairobi.
Professor Cyrill (15th June 1963). Falls in the Illustrated. London News.
Professor Ogwu in Guardian Newspaper of 22nd March 2002.
Professor Fasanmin in Thisday 12th April 2002
PAN African Summit, (1983). OAU Press Addis Ababa.
President Olusegun Obasanjo (2000). An address at the ECOWAS extra-ordinary Summit in Abuja - 30th March (unpublished).
President Olusegun Obasanjo (2001). A keynote address at the National seminar on the African Union Abuja - 15th May (unpublished).
Romulo R. C. (1956) Africa in Non-Alignment, citing in Bala Mohammed 1982, Abuja.
Short History of OAU (1973) published by OAU press.
Treaty Establishing The African Economic Community (1991) Abuja.
The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union 2000/C364/01.
Teshome Adera (1963) Nationalist Leaders and African Unity. Addis Ababa: Berhaneau Salam Printing.
Treaty on European Union Treaty establishing the European Communities and certain Related Act 2002/C80/01.
Thisday of 24th June 2002.
UNDP Report 2001
UNDP Report 1999-2002
Vanguard Newspaper of July 25, 2002
WHO Reort 2001 Geneva, Switzaland.
