Research Guides: Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs): The African Union

The African Union

African Union & Organization of African Unity

The African Union is the successor to the Organization of African Unity, which dissolved itself on July 9, 2002. It consists of fifty-five African states.

Major Organs

The major organs of the African Union are:

AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government
The Assembly of Heads of State and Government is the AU’s supreme policy and decision-making organ. It is comprised of all Member State Heads of State and Government.The Assembly determines the AU’s policies, establishes its priorities, adopts its annual programme and monitors the implementation of its policies and decisions. Provisions governing the Assembly’s composition, functions and powers, voting and procedures are contained in articles 6 to 9 of the Constitutive Act and Protocol on Amendments to the Constitutive Act. Section 1, rule 4 of the Assembly Rules of Procedure, as amended in 2007, elaborates on the Assembly’s functions and powers.
AU Executive Council
The Executive Council coordinates and makes decisions on policies of common interest to the Member States. It considers issues referred to it and monitors the implementation of policies formulated by the Assembly. The Executive Council is composed of foreign ministers or such other ministers or authorities as are designated by the governments of Member States. The Executive Council makes decisions by consensus or, where consensus is not possible, by a two-thirds majority vote by Member States. Matters of procedure, including the question of whether a matter is one of procedure or not, are decided by a simple majority. Two-thirds of AU members are required to form a quorum at any Executive Council meeting. The same Member State that chairs the Assembly chairs the Executive Council.
African Union Commission (AUC)
The African Union Commission (AUC) is the AU’s secretariat and undertakes the day to day activities of the Union. It is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Commission is composed of a chairperson, deputy chairperson and eight commissioners, plus staff. The Assembly elects the AUC Chairperson and AUC Deputy Chairperson. The Executive Council elects the eight AUC Commissioners, who are appointed by the Assembly. Commission members’ terms are for four years, renewable once. Elections and terms are governed by the AU Assembly Rules of Procedure the Executive Council Rules of Procedure and the Commission Statutes
African Court of Justice and Human Rights (ACJHR)
The African Court of Justice and Human Rights (ACJHR) was founded in 2004 by a merger of the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights and the Court of Justice of the African Union. It has jurisdiction over all cases and disputes submitted to it concerning the interpretation and application of The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which is the main human rights instrument in Africa; The Protocol that established the Court; AU Constitutive Act; AU treaties and all subsidiary legal instruments; the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (African Children’s Charter); the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol); other human rights treaties or instruments ratified by the state party; and any question of international law. The AfCHPR is based in Dodoma, Tanzania. The Court consists of 11 judges elected by the AU Assembly from African jurists nominated by State Parties to the Protocol. The Assembly considers equitable geographical, legal tradition and gender representation. They serve six-year terms, renewable once. The Court sits four times a year in two-week ordinary sessions. Extraordinary sessions may also be held.

Where to Find AU Documents

The AU and OAU have produced few paper documents although the Law and Langsam Libraries have some. Use UCLID to find out what is available and where. Search for Organization of African Unity or African Union as an author. The best source for African Union documents is the AU website. There are two places on the website that lead to documents. The first is the Legal Affairs Department; the second is the Resources tab.