Journal of Political Sciences and Public

Affairs Review Article

The Role of African Union in African Developmental Process

David Silas*
Department of Political Sciences and Public Affairs, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Rivers state, Nigeria

ABSTRACT
The African Union was established for the purpose of promoting regional integration, and good governance among
member states. This study therefore discovered that so far, the AU has played some key relevance in terms of roles
and performance towards achieving the prime aim of its formulation. The study further made use of the Liberal
Institutionalist Approach in making its justifications on “The Role of African Union in African Developmental
Processes”. Development can only be achieved through integration and togetherness. As an intergovernmental
organization, states are the major actors. Furthermore, the study appraised the AU’s role in African Developmental
process going through some of its specialized agencies and programs such as; Peace and Security Council (PSC),
African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), The New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD). These programs
respectively are in the area of security as in peace building exercises, promotion of human rights activities, promotion
of good governance and economic integration. Even with this, the African Union has been crippled with certain
challenges in the areas of security, as conflicts are on the high increase, poverty, hunger.
Keywords: NEPAD; PSC; APRM; OAU; AU; Human rights

INTRODUCTION resources, led to the collapse of the OAU, and a shift towards
the establishment of the African Union (AU). The founding
Historically, Africa has been a tale of struggle [1]. This struggle fathers of the defunct OAU included; Kwame Nkhruma of
emanated from the evils deposited by colonialism, and the need Ghana, Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya, Julius Nyerere of Tanzania,
for total liberation ushered in the decolonization process. To Gamal Abdel-Nasser of Egypt, Nelson Mandela of South Africa,
effectively achieve this height, several groups were amalgamated. Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, Tafawa Balewa of Nigeria.
The Monrovia, Brazzaville and Casablanca groups intensified
together to form the first regional body which was the The African Union came as the institutional manifestation of
Organization of African Unity, (OAU) in 1963. As a uniting the desire for integration in Africa [3]. The African Union was
force, the OAU was tasked with a responsibility of combating established on the 26 May, 2001, as a reflection towards a more
against the remnants of colonialism, and racial discrimination in efficient Africa. In a way to reflect this efficiency, the AU has
states like South Africa. In the wake for survival, the OAU been focused on institutionalizing Africa by primarily
survived under an alliance of cooperation between newly legitimatization regimes [4]. It emergence has provided a full
decolonized African states. The OAU could not stand the test of grown initiative by which the African people will effectively take
time due to issues emanating, ranging from constant violence the destiny of their continent in their own hands. This is in the
such as the Genocide in Rwanda, Nigeria-Cameroon dispute area of promoting solidarity, cooperation and support among
over Bakassi Peninsular since the 1970’s, Somalia-Ethiopia African states and people; so as to address the catalogue of
dispute in 1964 to 1978 over the Uganda desert region, Algeria- problems they face [5]. So far, the African Union has been able
Morocco conflict over the Atlas mountains area in October 1963 to achieve some certain level of development and certainty
[2]. Not too long, there emerged the presence of dictatorial against underdevelopment and uncertainty towards growth and
leaders in some African states, who violated human rights, and progress. It has set up the blue print for African transformation
economic depression due to constant mismanagement of and significance in the global stage. The issues bedeviling the

Correspondence to: David Silas, Department of Political Sciences and Public Affairs, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Rivers state,
Nigeria, Tel: 8107103082; E-mail: [email protected]
Received: 18-Feb-2022, Manuscript No. JPSPA-22-14519; Editor assigned: 21-Feb-2022, PreQC No. JPSPA-22-14519 (PQ); Reviewed: 7-Mar-2022,
QC No. JPSPA-22-14519;Revised:11-Mar-2022, Manuscript No. JPSPA-22-14519 (R);Published: 18-Mar-2022, DOI: 10.35248/2332-0761.22.10.418
Citation: Silas D (2022) The Role of African Union in African Developmental Process. J Pol Sci Pub Aff. 10:418
Copyright: © 2022 Silas D. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which
permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

J Pol Sci Pub Aff, Vol.10 Iss.1 No:1000418

Silas D

continent since the transformation of OAU to AU have been METHODOLOGY

the dilemma of insecurity, economic backwardness and political
disorderliness. Even with this, there have been some levels of This research relied on secondary data. The secondary data were
certainty and roles played by the union in the developmental sourced from online journal articles, and magazines.
process of Africa. These roles have been in the areas of peace
building, restoration, and conflict management. Theoretical framework
The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the AU was The theory of liberal institutionalism has been adopted as the
initiated to champion this course. Others includes basis for analyzing the roles of African union in African
promotion of an enabling environment for economic developmental process. Liberal institutionalism is a theory of
integration through; The New Partnership for African international relations first outlined by Robert Keohane.
Development (NEPAD). Under African Peer Review Liberalism according to (Ghali, 2014:13) has championed the
Mechanism (APRM), performance and progress are measured emergence of continental and regional political organizations. In
in four thematic areas; Democracy and political international relations, liberalism champions that orderliness,
governance, Economic and governance and management, laws and moral consciousness can undoubtedly provide basis for
corporate governance and socio-economic development [6]. inter-state relations [10]. Liberal institutionalism discourages any
Therefore, the roles of African Union, in African developmental form of pursuit of individual self- interest but encourages
process, shall be best appraised under the following areas; cooperation. Institutionalism connects that which is a crucial
promotion of peace and stability within member states, variable, contending that institutions matter and shape the
promotion of social-political and economic well-being and the interest of actors [11]. Against the realist positions that view the
promotion of democratic practices, against tyranny and state as anarchical and rooted in power tussle and human nature
unfriendly regimes in Africa. of which to the realist, cooperation cannot occur. Richardson
(2008:223) further adds that liberal institutionalism agrees to
peace, regionalism and cooperation, and economic integration.
Development: A conceptual clarification The African Union is set up to consolidate the lost cause of
The concept of development has many defining features such as; integration, economic and national security. Within the context
growth, economic buoyancy and total absent of of this study, the African Union setup is that of liberal
underdevelopment. Developmental analysts have been placed institutionalism.
with uncertainty to the exact meaning of development, this Membership of the African Union is based on liberal
means no concise term to quantify development. institutional approach which has been characterized to be for
In the words of [7], development emerges as an adjunct of economic gains, cooperation and continental identity against
globalization which further has no universally acceptable any form of power tussle and hegemonic show of superiority
definition cited in [7], development as a concept is over other weaker states. As argued by (Ghali, 2014:14)
multi-facial. It encompasses distinctive changes in social multilateralism is simply the practice of coordinating the
structures, attitudes, national institutions and a well behavior of states interacting with one another. With these
accelerated economic growth. Furthermore, development interactions, African states willingly have seen the need of an
traditionally interprets for economic growth [8]. integrating body, saddled with a wide range of responsibilities.
At this, certain institutions have be put in place, so as to
The above conceptualization of development is from a narrower facilitate AU’s role for smooth running of the regional body, for
angle, for it centers on majorly economic improvement and the betterment of the continent at large.
living standards of people. But within the context of study,
development is a state affair primarily because the rationale for
setting up of any regional, sub-regional or any organization is for
African union, peace and security
the purpose of growth, and the satisfaction of its members wants. There cannot be peace and progress in a conflicting
AU was instituted as a body to drive the African continent into environment, no wonder AU major mandate is to restore peace
the pathway of development, against the constant issues of in Africa, for through peace, there can be progress and growth.
conflicts, economic meltdown and bad leadership. Through In examining the role of any international security institution is
integration process, states are expected to share a common an essential but notoriously difficult exercise. The (PSC) which
mindset particularly on issues pertaining member states which is signifies the Peace and Security Council of the African Union
possible via the formation of intergovernmental bodies and was established by the (AU constitutive Act 4). It has been an
union. Development in this sense is championed by AU in the effective tool in the restoration of continental security and
areas of collective security, unified security system and a settlement of conflicts, arising within African states. In one
common goal career. AU developmental process, comes through sense, the activities of the PSC have been cost effective as its
various programs such as; The New Partnership for Africa’s funding has come from external actors, particularly states within
Development (NEPAD), it was initiated to monitor the EU and North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The PSC is
developmental growth, importance are placed on trade and composed of 15 members, it is to.
investments through greater liberation for improved Foreign
Direct Investment (FDI), [7] cited in [9]. • Promotion of peace, security and stability;
• Anticipate and prevent conflicts;
• Combat terrorism on the continent;

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• Develop a common defense policy for Africa; seeking to promote unity, eliminate conflicts and integrate a
• Promote democratic practices, good governance and respect larger African market and NEPAD was the mechanism in which
for human rights (Vines, 2013). this call could be achieved. NEPAD was an amalgamation of
three separate development programs initiated between 2000
Most African conflicts have been often related to issues
and 2001 [15].
connected to whom or which tribe, religious denomination
emerged as head of government. With this trend, the AU in the The first was the Millennium Partnership for African Recovery
early 2000s adopted a strategy of illegitimacy of unconstitutional (MAP), developed by President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa
changes of government as an approach to conflict management and whose main objective was to address Africa’s debt. MAP
system. This made a major achievement against the OAU policy enjoyed the support of Presidents Abdelaziz Bouteflika of
of non-interference in domestic affairs of member’s states. In Algeria and Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria. The OMEGA Plan
this view, the AU frowned at constant attempts by incumbent developed by the Senegalese President, Abdoulaye Wade, was
governments to retain political power by all cost even after the second. Enjoying the broad support of French African
losing a legitimate election. The AU has provided a platform, countries, OMEGA was concerned with building regional
which limited constant military involvement in the internal infrastructure and educational projects. The third was the
political affairs of member’s states. “Since 2003, the AU has Global Compact for Africa Recovery, which incorporated the
continued to condemn every successful coup on the continent, idea of peer review and initiated by the Economic Commission
namely those in the Central African Republic (2003), Guinea- for Africa (ECA), based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, through a
Bissau (2003), São Tomé and Príncipe (2003), Togo (2005), mandate given by African Ministers of Finance in 2000. The
Mauritania (2005 and 2008), Guinea (2008), Madagascar merger of these programs in July 2001 at the AU Summit in
(2009), and Niger (2010)”. In all this, the AU now makes public Lusaka, Zambia, culminated in the New African Initiative (NAI).
condemnation of military take-over, or attempted take-over in it However, NAI was renamed NEPAD in October 2001. At the
member states. A case study was the demand by the AU in Lusaka summit, a 15-member Heads of State and Government
collaboration with the UN, EU, demanding that the military Implementation Committee (HSGIC), representing all the
leaders released President of Mali Keita, and Prime Minister regions of Africa and chaired by Nigeria, was appointed, and
Boubou Cisse and other officials detained on the allegation of this had it first meeting in Abuja, Nigeria in October 2001.
corruption, economic stagnation, and continuing Islamist
NEPAD is among series of programs, embarked the AU to
insurgency [12]. Also, the PSC’s received international
promote meaningful development among member states, and
commendation in its decision to suspend Togo from
also fulfilling the course of the emergence of AU in Africa. As a
participating in AU activities and the eventual restoration of
tool in promoting development, NEPAD emphasizes on the
constitutional process.
liberalization for more Foreign Direct Investments (FDI), so as
In the area of peacekeeping operations, the UN is a special to aid the boosting of most African states economies. Through
partner of the African union [13]. The AU has been NEPAD programs, several strategies have been employed such
instrumental in mobilizing troops, notably in peacekeeping as; the comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program
missions to Burundi, Darfur, Somalia, and Comoros. Taking a (CAADP), the Minimum Integration Program (MIP) in 2007,
case of the Darfur crisis, states have largely spent financial, the Program for Infrastructural Development in Africa [16].
diplomatic, and military resources. Going by the poor nature of Even with these programs, the issues of malnourishments,
funding, the AU has been laid on various setbacks in achieving poverty, lack of access to portable water supply, poor health care
this sort-for lasting peace. “A handful of Africa’s wealthier states system is still sky rocketing. An estimated 186 million people are
are left to bear the burden of paying for the AU’s regular and below the poverty line, Africa’s per capital income is way lower
peacekeeping budgets, complemented by often generous but than it was in the 1960s. Only with the exemption of South
ultimately inadequate foreign funding that makes planning Africa, the average per capita income in 1997 was US$315,
difficult” [14]. When few states are always left to shoulder meaning Africa is like the poverty capital of the world [17].
responsibilities, there is always the problem of efficiency and
effectiveness in output mechanisms. African union, good governance
The APRM as a process has been designed to periodically review
African union, NEPAD and economic integration
the progress of states in matters of governance. This is done to
The inability of the OAU to provide a positive framework for ensure states are in a compliance with certain principles of good
African development led to the eventual emergence of the AU. governance, instituted by both NEPAD and AU [18-20]. The
Saddled with many responsibilities such as; regional integration review process is supervised by the AU. The APRM was
security restoration, and economic development, the OAU was instituted in 2003 by the AU in the framework of the
eventually replaced by the AU. Certain programs have been implementation of the New Partnership for African
drawn out for efficiency and restoration of the lost call towards Development (NEPAD) (AU, 2020). Member states within the
sustainability and economic con social well-being of the APRM undertake self-monitoring in all aspects of their
continent, a need to therefore achieve this was to form a governance and socio-economic development.
program now known as NEPAD. The birth of NEPAD was
Objectives of APRM and good governance
rooted in promoting peace and development in the continent
[15]. The AU was patterned after the European Union (EU), • Democracy and Political governance

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• Economic governance and management Nations Development Program (UNDP), United Nations
• Corporate governance Economic Commission (UNEC), (AFDB Reports, 2020).
• Socio-economic development (APRM Reports, 2020).
APRM for good governance in Africa has been through support The table below shows the programs embarked upon through
and partnership of African Developmental Bank (AFDB), the APRM in other to promote stability and enabling
together with other strategic partnerships such as; United conductive atmosphere for member states.
Table 1 : The table below shows the programs embarked upon through the APRM in other to promote stability.

Id Project name Country Status Date

P-21-DBO-202 Mutinational Nacala Road Malawi Identification 19th June, 2019

Corridor Development
project, phase V

P-LS-E00-007 Climate change Adaptation Lesotho Pending 30th May, 2019

for Sustainable Rural Water
Supply in Lowlands

P-NG-A20-001 Say no to Famine for Maiduguri, Nigeria Approved 14th December, 2018
Nigeria

P-NG-KAO-009 Nigeria-African Trade Nigeria Approved 14th December, 2018

Insurance (ATI) Country
Membership Program

Source: AFDB Bank Reports on projects carried out and to be carried out, in collaboration with APRM program for sustainable development and
good governance in Africa.

African union, challenges The inability of the AU to fulfill its promise of an inter African
trade relation is also a major setback. Member states are unable
The prime aim of reforming OAU to AU was for the purpose of to have a universal tariff system which will make economic
a more united African state, built on good governance and relations, and the ease of doing business possible. With the
sustainability. With test of time, the Union has been saddled proposed African Free Trade Area (AFTA), if it succeeds, a more
with uneven challenges such as terrorism, poverty, bad formidable economic union will emerge just as that of European
governance and intra-states disputes. The current rates of Union (EU).
conflicts in the continent has increased drastically, disputes in
Libya especially has stood the test of time. Even though the AU
was successful in quelling conflicts in Burundi, reverse is the CONCLUSION/RECOMMENDATIONS
case. The conflict in Sudan, Somalia and even Libya has stayed In conclusion, the AU since its inception has been able to
too long. The inability of the AU to curtail the Libyan crisis, perform necessary functions for the developmental process of
made it to be internationalized by NATO and other foreign Africa, so as to accelerate a well-structured developmental
powers. Subsequently, the PSC has been accused of take sides in pattern built on the premise of peace, good governance and the
carrying out decisions. In the assassination of Chadian fulfillment of the principle of growth.
President, Idriss Deby, the PSC initial refusal to suspend Chad
from AU provided another picture of the Union. This study therefore discovered that AU has been able to achieve
some significant developments, owing to its short time of
Also, most African states are in a state of lack and want. Even existence, through some of its specialized agencies and
though, most states are blessed with endless resources, programs. The PSC, NEPAD, APRM respectively are programs
conflicting interests of some foreign super powers have left these and agencies functioning dependently for the purposeful
naturally empowered states to be internationally poor. A critical achievement of the prime aim of reforming from the OAU to
example is the current situation in Congo. The interest from AU. Basically, the promotion of peace, socio-economic
Belgium, China, and USA will definitely limit internal progress development is major areas the AU has played key roles in
of these states. putting Africa on a tack to greatness.
The issues of undemocratically imposed regimes have limited This study subsequently has provided few areas in which the AU
progress, and this has led to conflicts. A typical example is the will achieve greatly if considered, they are
post-election violence in Ivory Coast. Human rights abuses have
been categorically associated with most African states. Disrespect • The AU should focus more on ensuring the fulfilment of its
of state institutions, political actors have now assumed a agenda by avoiding the duplication of certain programs.
position of strength over the guiding compass of the state, which • The issues of economic integration should be given great
is; Judiciary, Constitution. attention such as; ensuring and promoting inter-state trade

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