1. RESURGENCE AND NEW DIRECTION OF PAN-
AFRICANISM IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY
2. Initiatives at the Continental Level
• The African Union (AU), formerly the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), is the
continent’s governing organisation made up of fifty-five member states with its
headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
• The OAU was formed on 25 May, 1963 but undertook a name change on 9 July,
2002.
• In September, 1999, the heads of state and government of the OAU issued the
Sirte Declaration (in Libya) calling for the creation of an African Union – with the
aim of accelerating the process of integration in the continent.
• Four summits were held, leading to the launching of the African Union.
The Sirte Extraordinary Session (1999) decided to establish an African Union.
The Lomé Summit (2000) adopted the Constitutive Act of the Union
The Lusaka Summit (2001) drew the road map for the implementation of the AU.
The Durban Summit (2002) officially launched the AU.
3. Aims of the African Union
• Achieve greater unity and solidarity between African countries and their people.
• Defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Member states.
• Accelerate the political and socio-economic integration of the continent.
• Promote peace, security, and stability on the continent.
• Promote democratic principles and institutions, popular participation and good
governance, etc.
4. AU Agenda 2063 Aspirations
• Agenda 2063 is Africa’s plan for transforming the continent into the global
powerhouse of the future.
• It is the strategic framework that aims to deliver on the goal for inclusive and
sustainable development and is a manifestation of the pan-African drive for unity,
self-determination, freedom, progress and collective prosperity pursued under
pan-Africanism.
• It’s aspirations include:
A prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development.
An integrated continent, politically united and based on the ideals of pan-
Africanism and the vision of Africa’s Renaissance.
An Africa of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and
the rule of law.
A peaceful and secure Africa.
An Africa with strong cultural identity, cultural heritage, shared values and ethics.
5. Initiatives (Cont’d)
• The AU has been involved in many initiatives and cooperative activities including
the Global African Diaspora Summit – which took place on 28 May, 2012 in
Sandton, South Africa.
• The Summit had participants from the Caribbean, South America and the US, and
countries with significant population of people of African ancestry.
• The Summit came about because the AU and its various leaders recognised ‘the
need to build sustainable partnerships between the African continent and the
African Diaspora through sustainable dialogue and effective collaboration with
governments and people’s of different regions of the World in which the Diaspora
population are located’.
• Ghana’s year of return project was also a good initiative.
• One of the most influential non-governmental organisations in Ghana is the
African-American Association of Ghana. Its aim is to help grow relationship
between both countries, and to help African- Americans resettle in Ghana.
