The Organisation of African Unity (African Union) At 50

The Organisation of African Unity (OAU): at 50

The creation of the OAU on 25^th May 1963 was an initiative aimed at strengthening and kick-starting sustainable independence in every developmental aspect like other nations. Fifty years on, Africans are concerned that their continent is yet to be truly independent and progressive.

The Indicators of Success

As the saying “the proof of the pudding is in the eating” thus, the true test of success of the OAU (now the African Union) fifty years on can only be judged by Africans themselves.

In reality Africans worldwide are aware that the African Union exists to protect the individuals in political and governmental offices to the exclusion of the people. Governments have failed to integrate and include their citizens in developing their country and continent.  The result of this failing has created an African Union partnership that is an empty shelf in the words of a prominent Member of the European Parliament with Governments unable to deliver on the terms of the partnership.    

Africa is the richest Continent measured in terms of natural and human resources; yet Africans are forced to leave their home countries in search of economic opportunities due to the lack of effective governance. This reality on the ground paints a conclusive picture of the failings of African Governments and the African Union collectively.  

Some academics and writers on African affairs argue that the engagement of the African Union in peace keeping missions in Africa is a positive indicator of success. This view appears short sighted as it ignores the root causes of conflict in the first place. Africa has self imposed leaders whose main interest is the embezzlement of public funds that is spent and banked abroad.  The African Union exists to protect members’ personal interests rather than the interest of unity and recovery from the backwardness imposed through commercial, slave trading and direct colonialisation in Africa. 

It is an open secret that most African Head of States are dictators with many in political power directly since the 1980s.  Others maintain strangle holds over their countries through cronies. The struggles against colonial domination and apartheid have not yielded the dividends that were envisaged by all of those engaged to free Africa.

Examples Include

Sacrifices made to end apartheid in South Africa by Steve Biko Pa Nelson Mandela and Winnie Mandela amongst others ended political apartheid in South Africa but, economic apartheid deepens to prevent South Africans to enjoy the gains of political equality.

Sacrifices made by Ugandans to end dictatorship under General Idi Amin are yet to deliver democracy and sustainable socio-economic development for Uganda. The leader of the guerrilla army that removed Idi Amin continues to hold Ugandans hostage for the personal contributions that he made over twenty years ago. Women of Africa stand with Ugandan Journalists who are now standing against their modern day dictator’s imposition of his son on Uganda after he retires. Nigerians face untold inhumanity and untimely deaths from their governments and cronies who manipulates the electoral, governmental and security processes to meet international expectations.  

Fifty years of political independence from colonial masters is that individually, African nations continue to manipulate electoral processes to meet international calls for world democracy; thus alienating Africans whose participation in the political socio-economic recovery process would deliver the African Dream. Collectively, the African Union represents the interest and unity of Africa’s head of governments who are using every means    

The Way Forward:

The international community need to insist on an end to centuries of impunity against Africans; Africa is richer than most continents in the world and therefore should not expect to receive International aid for Africa’s development. Global partnerships should impose compliance with international standards by African Heads of State.

The deepening backwardness of Africa in the 21^st century necessitates a change of tactics by the United Nations, European Union and other world bodies who are actively engaging with the African Union. United Nations should be about united peoples instead of just the few in position of advantage. The growing threat of global terror is an indication of the need to change world consciousness in favour of Civil Society women’s right of engagement in the decision-making process.

It is time to encourage and recognise the creation of Civil Society women structures that would to a large extend dilute the failing political governments in Africa. The recent World Bank Review suggested that Africa is growing economically; it is grossly misleading to equate paper growth and/or growth achieved through foreign investment as Africa growing economically. It is not a secret that the celebrated emerging market and economic growth is to the exclusion of Africans in their own land and Continent.

It is not possible to achieve sustainable peace, stability, good governance, transparency, protection of human rights and true democracy in Africa without the active engagement of Africans themselves in the process.

African governments must create the enabling environment for Africans to step into the vast opportunity for production and the trade available in Africa.  

Fifty years after the creation of the OAU (now African Union), Africa is still struggling and Africans are still trotting the globe in search of food and safety. It is time to support the creation of an African women’s commission to represent Civil Society. The African Union has failed to meet the aspirations of Africans 50 years on and the necessities of the 21^st Century.

The realisation of reform and progress can only be through the recognition of African women by the international community, as equal stakeholders in African and world affairs at civil society level..

Women Of Africa (WOA) is working to raise the profile of African women onto the international level for Africa’s reform. African women are decision makers in their homes and communities by tradition and continue to represent the economic survival of the African continent.  The international community continues to not recognise the important role of African women commensurately on the international stage. Sexual violence, exclusion from national and international affairs is amongst the woes African women are suffering due to their loss of status through immature globalisation.

Visit www.womenofafrika.org for further information.

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