Progress towards decolonisation showed African leaders the need for unity and mutual support. However, the Cold War made African countries pawns in the competition for power by the USSR and the USA. Both these superpowers were determined to increase their support-base even if it meant helping autocratic, illegal and corrupt leaders across the world. African states were rewarded for their loyalty through military and other support by the US or USSR. Independence movements often gained funding and other kinds of support as the superpowers tried to ensure the victory of their favoured leadership. This jockeying for global influence led to many power struggles and civil wars across Africa. It is from this situation that the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) came into being in 1963.
The organisation served a similar role to that of the United Nations at a continental level. It also gave Africa a voice at international gatherings. As more African countries achieved independence, inspired by the ideas of Pan-Africanism they looked to forging official African unity. However, differences of opinion emerged and two blocs or power bases were formed.
- The Casablanca bloc, under the leadership of Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, wanted a federation of all African countries. Apart from Ghana, members of this group were Egypt, Guinea, Libya, Mali, Algeria and Morocco.
- The Monrovia bloc, under the leadership of Leopold Senghor of Senegal and Houphouet-Boigny of Ivory Coast, rejected the idea of an immediate political federation and emphasised unity through economic cooperation. This bloc included most of the French-speaking countries with support from Liberia and Ethiopia.
This difference of opinion raised friction with the more radical Casablanca bloc growing critical of the moderate Monrovia bloc. The matter was eventually settled when Ethiopian leader Haile Selassie, invited the leaders of 32 countries, representing both blocs, to a meeting in Addis Ababa. Out of the negotiation on 25 May 1963, the OAU was established as a broad union of African countries and given a mandate to represent African opinion internationally at structures such as the UNO.
Haile Selassie
(Source:http://www.rootz.net/him023.jpg)
The aims
of the OAU are outlined in the Charter
of the OAU.
Briefly the organization set the following as its objectives.
-
To
promote unity and solidarity among African states
-
To
end colonialism and achieve full independence in all African countries
-
To
follow a principle of non-interference into the domestic affairs
of other states and a non-aligned position in world affairs
-
To
recognise the equality of all states
-
To
improve standards of living in Africa
-
To
allow for peaceful settlement of disputes between African countries
The structure of the Organisation of African Unity
The
Summit Council
This is the highest body in the OAU and meets once
a year. It consists of the Heads of States of all member countries. |
The
Council of Ministers
This consists of the Foreign Ministers of
all members and deals with less important matters than the Summit
Council. It meets twice a year. |
The
General secretariat
This body deals with the daily administration of the OAU
and consists of a Secretary General and 4 Assistant Secretaries. |
| Commissions
and specialised agencies |
Commission
for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration
Responsible for solving
disputes between African counties. It consists of 21 elected
states.
|
Commission
for the liberation of Africa
Founded in 1963 to provide financial
and military aid to the freedom movements. Headquarters in Dar
es Salaam, Tanzania. |
Education,
Cultural, Scientific and health commission
It focuses on African
development. |
| Defence
Commission |
Economic
and Social Commission |
Pan-African
Postal Union |
| African
Civil Aviation Commission |
Supreme
Council for Spots in Africa |
Pan
African Telecommunications Union |
| Union
of African Railways |
Pan-African
News Agency |
Organisation
of African Trade Union Unity |
Learning
Outcome: Learners will be expected to demonstrate an ability to work
independently, formulating enquiry questions and gathering, analysing,
interpreting and evaluating relevant evidence to answer questions.
 Activity
10
- What were the most important reasons for the formation of the OAU?
- Who played an important role in the formation of the OAU?
-
Discuss the problems between the Monrovia and Casablanca blocs
in the formation of the OAU.
|
