On 9th September 2022, the African Union will celebrate its 20th anniversary.
It was on this date in 1999 (9.9.99) that the then Organisation of
African Unity, OAU, signed the Sirte Declaration, establishing the
African Union.
The Declaration called for the creation of an organisation that would
accelerate integration on the continent and enable Africa to play a
greater role in the global economy while addressing social, economic
and political challenges with African solutions.
“Our Africa, Our Future” is the slogan of the AU20 Campaign that aims
to depict the AU’s active and critical role in the continent’s
affairs.
The Lomé Summit (2000) adopted the African Union’s Constitutive Act,
while the Lusaka Summit (2001) drew the roadmap for implementation of
the AU.
Moreover, the decision to re-launch Africa’s Pan-African organisation
was the outcome of a consensus by African leaders that in order to
realize Africa’s potential, there was a need to refocus attention from
the fight for decolonization and apartheid, which had been the focus
of the OAU, towards increased cooperation and integration of African
states to drive Africa’s growth and economic development.
And following the Sirte Declaration, the AU was launched in July 2002
in Durban, South Africa.
Additionally, in commemoration of the African Union’s twentieth
anniversary, the African Union Commission is launching an information
campaign reflecting the milestones and impact of the Organization in
realizing its vision of “An Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful
Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in
the global arena.”
Dubbed the African Union at 20, #AU20, the campaign will roll-out
information, facts and figures to raise awareness of the progress of
the various projects, programmes and initiatives undertaken during the
20 years across the continent.
This campaign, undertaken in collaboration with the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP), will tell the story of the AU’s past,
present, and vision for the future, highlighting the various ways in
which the African Union works to promote the peace, unity and
prosperity of African citizens.
It is accessible at Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Written by: Thandisizwe Mgudlwa
