Overview

The African Union, or AU, is a pan-African organisation whose goal is to propel a united continent towards peace and prosperity.

The AU supports political and economic integration among its 53 member nations. It aims to boost development, eradicate poverty and bring Africa into the global economy.

The AU succeeded the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 2002. In its later years the OAU - which originated in the decolonisation struggles of the early 1960s - had been criticised for becoming a mere talking shop.

• Overview | History

Sudan like a powder keg, says AU chief Jean Ping

01.29.2010

A vote for independence in oil-rich Southern Sudan's referendum next year could be catastrophic, the African Union's top diplomat has warned. Many African leaders fear the secession of South Sudan may set a precedent for other groups within Sudan and other African countries.

African Union row over Muammar Gaddafi's role

01.28.2010

A diplomatic row has broken out at the African Union over attempts to extend Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's chairmanship of the organisation.

ECOWAS mulls Guinea intervention force

12.14.2009

West African bloc Ecowas has proposed sending an "intervention force" to Guinea, whose military leader was shot and wounded earlier this month.

Africa must transcend its farcical, nation-state system

11.05.2009

For the greatest part of it, Africa is a mishmash of states without nations and nations without states. Paradoxically, while colonialism is still being blamed for many of Africa’s problems, the farcical national boundaries imposed during the scramble for Africa by colonial powers in Berlin in 1885 remain sacrosanct.

Malawi president to take over as AU chairman

11.03.2009

Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika is likely to take over African Union chairmanship from Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi next January, African Union sources have said.

African Union adopts refugee pact

10.23.2009

A Summit of African leaders yesterday adopted the African Union Convention on the protection of refugees, internally displaced persons and returnees.

African Union Summit tackles internally displaced for the first time

10.21.2009

No other continent has as many refugees and internally displaced persons as Africa. More than 17 million Africans have been forced to leave their home regions. Many have been living in camps for years.

African countries will speak with one voice at Copenhagen climate summit

10.12.2009

African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Jean Ping declared on Sunday in Ouagadougou that African countries had decided to adopt a common position and to speak in one voice during the UN climate summit scheduled for December in Copenhagen.

Africa Union Rejects Somali Insurgent Leader’s Truce Call

10.07.2009

The African Union has rejected call for a truce among Somalia's insurgent groups. Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, leader of Hizbul Islam rebels called on al-Shabab insurgent group to agree to a ceasefire to end the ongoing clashes between their fighters in Kismayo.

South American, African leaders call for concrete measures to accelerate integration

09.26.2009

President of the Commission of the African Union (AU) Jean Ping said on Saturday that African countries are ready to take their part in building a new model of South-South cooperation with Latin America.