African Union

The African Union (abbreviated AU), founded in July 2002, is the successor organisation to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). Modelled after the European Union (but currently with powers closer to the Commonwealth of Nations), it aims to help promote democracy, human rights and development across Africa, especially by increasing foreign investment through the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) program. Its first chairman was South African president Thabo Mbeki.

Current issues

The AU faces many problems, from the HIV epidemic and poverty to many civil wars.

Related Topics:
HIV - Civil war

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In response to the ongoing Darfur crisis in the Sudan, the AU has deployed 300 soldiers, mostly from Rwanda, to Darfur to protect the AU observers. As of 2004, it is considering the deployment of up to 2,500 peacekeepers to the region. In 2005 there was a donor's conference held in the African Union's headquarters in Addis Ababa where enough money was raised that it is believed there will be enough money to raise AU troop levels to 7,000 in September and to 12,000 in the beginning of 2006.

Related Topics:
Darfur crisis - Sudan - Deployed 300 soldiers - Rwanda - Darfur - 2004 - 2005 - Addis Ababa - 2006

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In response to the death of Gnassingbé Eyadéma, president of Togo, on February 5, 2005, AU leaders described the naming of his son Faure Gnassingbé the successor as a military coup http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4240485.stm. Togo's constitution calls for the speaker of parliament to succeed the president in the event of his death. By law, the parliament speaker must call national elections to choose a new president within 60 days.

Related Topics:
Gnassingbé Eyadéma - Togo - February 5 - 2005 - Faure Gnassingbé - Military coup

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As of 2005, current conflicts also include the:

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• Algerian Civil War,
• Casamance Conflict,
• Second Congo War,
• Somali Civil War,
• Second Sudanese Civil War and
• Conflict in northern Uganda.