Organisation of African Unity

For the successor organisation, see African Union.

Organisation of African Unity
Organisation de l'unité africaine
1963–2002
Flag of the Organisation for African Unity
Flag
Anthem: "Let Us All Unite and Celebrate Together"
OAU during its foundation
OAU during its foundation
CapitalAddis Ababa
Secretary-general 
• 1963–1964
Kifle Wodajo
• 1964–1972
Diallo Telli
• 1972–1974
Nzo Ekangaki
• 1974–1978
William Eteki
• 1978–1983
Edem Kodjo
• 1983–1985
Peter Onu
• 1985–1989
Ide Oumarou
• 1989–2001
Salim Ahmed Salim
• 2001–2002
Amara Essy
History 
• Charter
25 May[citation needed] 1963
• Disbanded
9 July 2002
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
Casablanca Group
Monrovia Group
African Union
a Headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The Organisation of African Unity (OAU; French: Organisation de l'unité africaine, OUA) was an intergovernmental organization established on 25 May 1963 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with 33 signatory governments.[1][a] The inception of its establishment was the Sanniquellie Pledge at the First West African Summit Conference held at Sanniquellie, Central Province, Nimba County, Liberian hinterland on 15-19 July 1959.[2] President Tubman of Liberia hosted President Touré of Guinea, and Prime Minister Nkrumah of Ghana, and the three pledged to work together for the formation of a “Community of Independent African States.” [3] It was later disbanded on 9 July 2002 by its last chairman, South African President Thabo Mbeki, and replaced by the African Union (AU). Some of the key aims of the OAU were to encourage political and economic integration among member states, and to eradicate colonialism and neo-colonialism from the African continent.[4]

The absence of an armed force like that of the United Nations left the organization with no means to enforce its decisions. It was also not willing to become involved in the internal affairs of member nations prompting some critics to claim the OAU as a forum for rhetoric, not action. Recognizing this, the OAU in September 1999 issued the Sirte Declaration, calling for a new body to take its place. On 9 July 2002, this happened with the creation of the African Union(AU). The African Union continues to this day to uphold many of the founding principles of the OAU.[5]

  1. ^ "Department of International Relations and Cooperation – South Africa". dfa.gov.za. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  2. ^ The First West African Summit Conference: Held at Sanniquellie, Central Province, Liberian hinterland, July 15-19, 1959. The Liberian Information Service. 1959.
  3. ^ "Special Conferences". International Organization. 16 (2): 444–446. 1962. doi:10.1017/S0020818300011218.
  4. ^ "African Union (See also – Organization of African Unity (OAU)) Archives". Question of Palestine. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  5. ^ Beverton, Alys (10 May 2009). "Organization of African Unity (1963–2002)". Retrieved 27 May 2021.


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