Why this matters now
African Union is tested for: founded 9 JULY 2002 DURBAN SUMMIT South Africa; replaced Organisation of African Unity (OAU, 25 May 1963 Addis Ababa — founders Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah + Ethiopia’s Emperor Haile Selassie); HQ ADDIS ABABA Ethiopia; 55 MEMBERS (every African state); Morocco rejoined 2017 (had left OAU 1984 over Western Sahara); newest Western Sahara/SADR; SADR (Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic) member since 1984; AU joined G20 9 SEPT 2023 DELHI G20 SUMMIT PM Modi key diplomatic outcome on India’s G20 Presidency; Agenda 2063 “The Africa We Want” 50-year vision; AfCFTA African Continental Free Trade Area launched 1 Jan 2021 — world’s largest FTA by member count; India is observer at AU + has 1st India-Africa Forum Summit 2008 + 2nd 2011 + 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit Oct 2015 New Delhi 41 heads of state.
Structure
| Organ | Role |
|---|---|
| AU Assembly | Heads of state/government; supreme body; meets twice/year. |
| AU Commission | Secretariat at Addis Ababa; chair currently Moussa Faki Mahamat (Chad, 2017-). |
| Executive Council | Foreign ministers. |
| Permanent Representatives Committee | Ambassadors at Addis Ababa. |
| Peace + Security Council | 15 members; AU’s UNSC equivalent. |
| Pan-African Parliament | Midrand, South Africa. |
| African Court on Human + People’s Rights | Arusha, Tanzania. |
India & AU
- India hosts India-Africa Forum Summits — 1st (2008 New Delhi), 2nd (2011 Addis Ababa), 3rd (Oct 2015 New Delhi, 41 heads of state).
- 9 Sept 2023: PM Modi announced AU’s admission as full G20 member at Delhi G20 Summit — major India outcome.
- India provides $12 b LOCs + $700 m grants to Africa.
- Mission Karmayogi for Africa + Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) trains 6000+ Africans/yr.
- India has resident missions in 46 of 54 African countries (4 opened in 2023-24 expansion).
African Continental Free Trade Area
- Treaty signed 21 March 2018 Kigali; entered into force 30 May 2019; trading began 1 January 2021.
- 54 of 55 AU states signed (Eritrea pending); 47 ratifications in force.
- Secretariat Accra, Ghana; Sec-Gen Wamkele Mene (South Africa, 2020-).
- World’s largest FTA by member count; covers 1.4 b people, $3.4 tn GDP.
- Phase I: trade in goods, services, dispute settlement.
- Phase II: investment, intellectual property, competition policy, digital trade.
UPSC angle
Know AFRICAN UNION (AU) — FOUNDED 9 JULY 2002 DURBAN SUMMIT South Africa replaced ORGANISATION OF AFRICAN UNITY (OAU) 25 May 1963 Addis Ababa founders KWAME NKRUMAH Ghana + Emperor HAILE SELASSIE Ethiopia; HQ ADDIS ABABA ETHIOPIA; 55 MEMBERS every African state; MOROCCO REJOINED 2017 (left OAU 1984 over Western Sahara); SADR Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic member since 1984; AU JOINED G20 9 SEPT 2023 DELHI G20 SUMMIT PM Modi KEY DIPLOMATIC OUTCOME on India’s G20 Presidency; AGENDA 2063 The Africa We Want 50-year vision; AFCFTA African Continental Free Trade Area treaty signed 21 MAR 2018 KIGALI in force 30 MAY 2019 trading began 1 JAN 2021; 54 of 55 AU states signed Eritrea pending 47 ratifications in force; AfCFTA Secretariat ACCRA GHANA Sec-Gen WAMKELE MENE S Africa 2020-; world’s LARGEST FTA by member count 1.4 b people $3.4 tn GDP; Phase I goods services dispute Phase II investment IP competition digital; INDIA OBSERVER at AU + INDIA-AFRICA FORUM SUMMITS 1st 2008 + 2nd 2011 + 3rd OCT 2015 NEW DELHI 41 HEADS OF STATE; AU Assembly heads of state supreme body twice/yr; AU COMMISSION secretariat Addis Ababa chair MOUSSA FAKI MAHAMAT Chad 2017-; Executive Council foreign ministers; Peace + Security Council 15 members; Pan-African Parliament MIDRAND S AFRICA; African Court on Human + People’s Rights ARUSHA TANZANIA.
Frequently asked questions
When and where was the African Union founded?
9 July 2002 at the Durban Summit, South Africa — replacing the Organisation of African Unity (OAU, 1963).
When did the AU join the G20?
9 September 2023 at PM Modi’s Delhi G20 Summit. A key India diplomatic outcome of its 2023 G20 Presidency.
How many countries are in the AU?
55 member states — every African country. Morocco rejoined in 2017 after a 33-year absence. SADR (Western Sahara) has been a member since 1984.
What is the AfCFTA?
African Continental Free Trade Area — treaty signed 21 March 2018 (Kigali), in force 30 May 2019, trading began 1 January 2021. World’s largest FTA by member count (54/55 AU states; 1.4 b people; $3.4 tn GDP). Secretariat at Accra.