- Origins
- The OAU owes its origin from the Pan African movement which started outside the African continent.
- The Manchester Pan African Congress of 1945.
- THE Afro-Asian Bandung Conference of April 1955.
- The Pan African Congress organized by Nkrumah in Accra.
- The independence of a large number of African states IN 1960.
- The second all African peoples Conference was organized in Tunis in January 1960.
- In June 1960 the second conference of independent African states was organized in Addis Ababa
- The Congo crisis of July 1960.
- Objectives of the OAU
- To promote peace and stability in Africa.
- To promote unity and solidarity of African states.
- To liberate African territories from colonial rule
- To eradicate all forms of imperialism and neo colonialism in Africa
- To defend the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of African states.
- To promote respect of human rights
- To encourage political, social and economic integration
- To promote African solidarity in international affairs
- To coordinate efforts at achieving better living standards
- The organization of OAU.
-The assembly of the heads of states and government.
It was the executive organ of the OAU, in charge of the admission of new members, election of the secretary General, Coordination and harmonization of the Secretary General, Coordination and harmonization of the general policy of the OAU.
-The council of ministers
It brought together mostly Foreign Ministers, thrice a year, or ministers relating to issues affecting the continent, prepared the ground work for the head of state or government summit, creates adhoc committees on matters affecting the continent
-The secretariat
The administrative organ of the OAU, headed by the secretary General.
- The achievement of the OAU
- The OAU denounced the secession of Biafra.
- The OAU members were united in condemning Ian Smith’s Unilateral Declaration of Independence.
- The OAU condemned the Israel occupation of Egyptian territories in 1967 and 1973
- The OAU played an important mediation that led to the withdrawer of the French and Libyan forces
- The OAU pressure led to the release of Mandela from prison in February 1990
Social
- It promote sports
- Promote cultural revival
- Promoted traditional medicine, research on the treatment of livestock and famine diseases
Economic
- Development of regional economic integration such as ECOWAS,UDEAC,ECCA
- Sponsored the African development Bank
- Promoted the Trans-African High Way
- Promoted trade fairs in Africa.
- Reason for the weakness of the OAU
- The OAU had no standing Army
- Loyalties to former colonial masters
- Loyalty to different international organizations
- Division between democratic and non- democratic countries
- Threats of military coups
- Support for revolutionary activities against elected government
