ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY (OAU), ORIGIN, OBJECTIVES, STRUCTURE, ACHIEVEMENTS, CHALLENGES AND PRINCIPLES

13/5/2022

What was the OAU?

It was an association of independent African states that existed between 1963 and 2002, when it was renamed the African Union (AU)

Origin and development of OAU

It was formed as a climax of a series of pan- Africanism congresses up to 1963.
In January 1961, several African independent states, i.e. Egypt, Ghana, morocco, Libya and Algeria, met in Casablanca and pledged to help Patrice Lumumba of Congo against the secessionist Tsombe. In May 1961, another group of African states, i.e. Liberia, Tunisia and Togo met in Monrovia and agreed to work in unity to solve the Congo crisis. In august 1961, a bigger group made up of former French colonies met in Brazzaville to find a solution to the Congo crisis.

In 1963, the regional groupings compromised and joined with others to form one organization. In May 1963, foreign ministers of 32 independent African states met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to prepare the agenda for the heads of state meeting.

The heads of states met under chair of Emperor Haile Selassie and gave birth to OAU, with Selassie as its first chairperson. Its membership grew from 32 at the time of its inception to 54

NB; when the Saharan Arab Democratic Republic was admitted to the OAU in 1984,Morocco withdrew since she claimed that SADR was part of her territory.

The Charter of OAU: Objectives of the OAU

To provide African countries it a permanent organization through which they could discuss issues affecting them and lay strategies for solving them.
To provide identity for the newly independent countries of Africa in a world dominated and controlled by the white race.
To co-ordinate and assist in the speedy decolonization of the rest of Africa.
To improve the living standards and conditions of African people as a group and as individual states.
To help in the Defence of the independence of African states and maintenance of the sovereignty of these countries.
To promote cooperation among the African states in economic, social and political fields so as to improve living standards.
To promote and enhance African solidarity and unity.
To support world, peace organizations like the UN and the Non-Aligned Movement.
To promote peaceful settlement of disputes.
To promote non-interference in the internal matters of member states.

The fundamental principles of OAU as outlined in the charter.

Recognition of the sovereign equality of member states.
Non-interference in the internal affairs of member countries.
Respect for the sovereign and territorial integrity of each country and its inalienable right to independent existence.
Peaceful settlement of disputes.
Condemnation of political assassination or any form of subversion by one country in another member country.
Dedication to the emancipation of territories under colonial rule.
Adherence to the principle of non-alignment.

The structure of the former OAU

The OAU charter borrowed heavily from that of the United Nations Organization. The only difference is that no member of OAU enjoys veto powers. All members have equal privileges and vote.
The charter outlined the structure of OAU as follows;

The Assembly of Heads of State and Government - This was the supreme organ of OAU meeting once a year to discuss specific urgent matters and electing a chairperson every year. A two-third majority vote was used to decide critical issues.

The Council of Ministers - It was made up of all foreign ministers of OAU member states and met twice a year to prepare agenda for the meeting of heads of state and government. It implemented decisions passed by heads and prepared the OAU budget. The General Secretariat - Headed by the secretary general elected by the Assembly of Heads of state, it offered the administrative services to the organization on daily basis. The past secretaries were Kifle Wodajo of Ethiopia (1963-1964), Diallo Telli Boubaker of Guinea (1964-1972), Nzo Ekangaki of Cameroon (1972-1974), Eteki Mboumoua of Cameroon (1974-1978), Edem Kodjo of Togo (1978-1983), Peter Onu of Nigeria (1983-1985), Ide Oumarou of Niger(1985-1989). The last was Salim Ahmed Salim from Tanzania.

The Commission of Mediation, Conciliation and Arbitration - It was charged with the task of settling disputes involving members. It had membership of 21 states and served for a term of five years.

Specialized Agencies - The OAU also comprised specialized agencies and committees that handled the technical business of the organization. E.g. the OAU Liberation Committee-to co-ordinate activities of liberation movements, The Economic and Social Commission, the Commission on Education, Science and Culture, the Defence Commission, the Supreme Council of Sports Etc.

Achievements of OAU

It offered solution to border disputes between member states like Kenya vs. Somalia, Ethiopia vs. Somalia, Libya vs. Chad, morocco vs. Algeria, Chad vs. Nigeria and the Rwanda –Burundi conflict.
The OAU achieved total liberation of African countries, with South Africa being the last one. It offered military support to the nationalistic struggles in Mozambique, Angola, Rhodesia, Namibia and South Africa.
It condemned human rights violation in countries like Namibia and South Africa. It encouraged economic sanctions against the apartheid regime of South Africa.
Through the OAU, African governments were able to speak with one voice on matters affecting Africa and they even attempted to formulate a common foreign policy.
It provided a forum for discussing Africa’s common problems like desertification, foreign interference, and dependency and at the same time sought for solutions to the problems.
The organization embarked on common economic ventures for Africa. For example creation of the African Development Bank (ADB) which represented the collective contribution by all Africans towards emancipation of Africans from economic backwardness.
It encouraged construction of roads and railways to link different regions. E.g. Tanzam, the Great North Road and the Trans-African Highway. This improved economic co-operation between member states.
It created a cultural identity for African countries sports and the All-African Games, which provided Africans with the opportunity to meet and socialize.
Through its refugee agency, it addressed itself to the refugee problem in the continent. E.g. refugees from countries like Rwanda, Burundi, Chad, Gambia, Ethiopia, Sudan and Somalia have been assisted.
It was instrumental in the formation of regional organizations like ECOWAS, SADDC and COMESA.

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Problems that faced OAU during its operation

Differences in economic development levels and in history of member states militated against co-operation.
Ideological differences among member states, especially during the Cold war period, hampered the operations of the OAU.
It lacked sufficient funds to carry out its work efficiently. The members were poor given that all of them were third world countries.
The problem of sovereignty. Many countries disregarded the OAU resolutions in favour of their sovereignty and national interests.
It lacked an effective machinery to effect its decisions. It also lacked a standing army to implement and effect its resolutions hence the term ‘Toothless Bulldog’ coined by Gadaffi to refer to it.
Loyalty to other organizations. OAU members also belonged to other organizations like ECOWAS, COMESA, The Arab League etc; the interests of these organizations were not always in accord with those of the OAU.
The colonial legacy. Many problems arising from past colonial policies have rocked the organization. E.g. The land issue in Zimbabwe. There is also the problem of Neo-Colonialism in trade.
Interference by the big powers. This has caused dismay to the organization.
Emergence of dictators like Amin Dada of Uganda, Bakassa Jean Bedel of Central African Republic, And Mobutu of Congo.
Civil strife in various countries remained unresolved for a long time. E.g in Sudan, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Nigeria. This made cooperation difficult.

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