Table of Contents Page

Preface……………………………………………………………………………... 1
Course Information…………………………………………………………...… 2
Course Objectives………………………………………………………………………. 2

Chapter One
1. Background and Overview to the African Union……………………………………. 4
1.1. Historical Background of African Union………………………………….. 4
1.1.1. OAU as a predecessor to the African Union…………………. 7
1.1.2. Strengths and Weaknesses of the OAU……………………... 14
1.1.3. The Rationale for the Establishment of the African Union…. 16
1.2. The Relationship of African Union and NEPAD………………………… 20
1.2.1. Origin and Mandate of NEPAD…………………………….. 20
1.2.2. NEPAD as Part of the African Union System………………. 22
1.3. The Relation between African Union and Sub-Regional Organizations in Africa..24

Unit Summary……………………………………………………………………. 27

Chapter Two
2. The African Union as Part of International Institutional Law: Its Legal Personality,
Principles and Objectives……………………………………………… 29
2.1. The Concept and Nature of International Institutional Law……………… 29
2.2. The Position of the African Union in the Classification of International
Organizations……………………………………………………………... 32
2.3. Legal Personality of the African Union………………………………….. 40
2.3.1. The Rationale for Personality…………………………………. 40
2.3.2. African Union’s Personality at an International Level………… 41
2.3.3. African Union’s Personality Within its Member States……….. 41
2.4. The Foundation of the Powers of the African Union…………………….. 44
2.4.1 The Doctrine of Attributed Powers……………………………... 44
2.4.2. The Doctrine of Implied powers ………………………………. 45
 2.4.3. Reconciling the Attributed and Implied Powers Doctrines….... 47
2.5. Objectives of the African Union…………………………………………... 48
2.6. Principles of the African Union …………………………………………... 49

Unit Summary………………………………………………………………………… 53

Chapter Three
3. The Organs of the African Union Along With Their Respective Mandates
and Modes of Operation……………………………………………………………. 55
3.1. The Assembly…………………………………………………………….. 55
3.1.1. Powers and Functions of the Assembly………………………… 56
3.1.2. The Mode of Operation of the Assembly………………………. 58
3.2 The Executive Council…………………………………………………….. 64
3.2.1 Its Composition and Functions ………………………………..... 64
3.2.2 The Mode of Operation of the Executive Council………………. 66
3.3. The Commission…………………………………………………………... 67
3.4. The Pan African Parliament……………………………………………….. 68
3.5. The Court of Justice……………………………………………………….. 70
3.5.1. Salient Features of the Court of Justice………………………… 70
3.5.2. The Decision to Merge the African Court on Human and
Peoples’ Rights and the Court of Justice……………………….. 71
3.5.3. The Proposed Mode of Operation of the Merged Court………... 72
3.6. The Permanent Representatives’ Committees……………………………... 73
3.7. The Specialized Technical Committees……………………………………. 76
3.8. The Economic, Social and Cultural Council………………………………... 77
3.9. The Peace and Security Council …………………………………………… 77
3.9.1. Background……………………………………………………... 78
3.9.2. Objectives, Functions and Composition of the Peace and Security Council..80
3.9.3. The Mode of Operation of the Peace and Security Council……. 83
3.10. Financial Institutions………………………………………………………. 83
3.10.1. The African Monetary Fund……………………………..…… 83
 3.10.2. The African Central Bank ……………………………………. 85
3.10.3. The African Investment Bank………………………………… 85

Unit Summary…………………………………………………………………………. 86

Chapter Four
4. African Union: Membership, Representation and Failure to Make Financial Contributions..88
4.1. Membership to the African Union…………………………………………... 88
4.1.1. Admission to Membership…………………………………........ 90
4.1.2. Continuity, Creation and Succession of States ………………… 92
4.2. Suspension of Membership…………………………………………………... 94
4.3. Termination of Membership…………………………………………………. 95
4.3.1 Possible Causes of Termination………………………………… 95
4.3.1.1 Withdrawal by the Member …………………………... 96
4.3.1.2 Expulsion by the Organization………………………..98
4.3.1.3. Disappearance of a Member or Loss of Essential Qualifications..98
4.3.1.4. Dissolution of the Organization…………………….. 99
4.3.2. The Dilemma Created by Amendment of the Constitutive Act. 99
4.4. Representation………………………………………………………………. 100
4.5. Effect of Failure to Make Financial Contributions ……………………….... 101

Unit Summary………………………………………………………………………… 103

Chapter Five
5. Privileges and Immunities of the African Union……………………………………. 105
5.1. The Rationale of International Immunities…………………………………. 105
5.2. Immunities of the African Union Organization perse……………………….… 108
5.2.1 Property, Assets and Funds …………………………………… 108
5.2.2 Premises and Archives……………………………………….... 110
5.2.3 Currency and Fiscal Matters…………………………………... 112
5.2.4 Communications………………………………………………. 113
 5.3. Privileges and Immunities of African Union Personnel …………………... 114
5.3.1 Representatives of Member States …………………………… 115
5.3.2 Officials of the African Union ……………………………….. 117
5.3.3 Experts on Missions for the African Union………………...… 119

Unit Summary………………………………………………………………………… 121

Chapter Six
6. Legal Instruments in the African Union…………………………………………….. 122
6.1. Theories of Law-making…………………………………………………….. 122
6.2. The Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties and AU instruments………. 132
6.3. Categories of instruments: ………………………………………………….. 135
6.3.1. Human Right Instruments……………………………………………. 135
6.3.2. Non Human Right Instruments………………………………………. 171
6.4. Non-binding instruments…………………………………………………… 171

Unit Summary………………………………………………………………………… 174

Chapter Seven
7. The Role of the African Union in the Protection of Human Rights and Maintenance of
Peace and Security in Africa………………………………………………………... 175
7.1. The Competence of the African Union……………………………………... 180
7.2. The Power to Intervene in the Affairs of Member States…………………... 184
7.3. Peace Keeping Mission and Operations of the African Union……………... 184
7.4 The Relationship of the African Union with other International
Human Rights Organizations………………………………………………... 189

Unit Summary………………………………………………………………………… 191

 
Chapter Eight
8. Responsibility to and of the African Union under the Law Governing Relations
Between International Organizations and other Parties……………………………... 192
8.1. Responsibility to international organizations……………………………….. 194
8.2. The Right to Bring and Defend Claims under International Law…………... 198
8.3. Responsibility of International Organizations to the African Union………... 202

Unit Summary………………………………………………………………………… 204

Chapter Nine
9. Amendment of the Constitution of the African Union …………………………….. 205
9.1. Introduction………………………………………………………………….. 205
9.2. The Consensus Principle…………………………………………………….. 210
9.3. The Majority Principle………………………………………………………. 212
9.4. The Consensus and Majority Principles Combined…………………………. 213

Unit Summary………………………………………………………………………… 214

Chapter Ten
10. Dissolution and Succession of the African Union ………………………………… 215
10.1. The Modalities of Dissolution……………………………………………... 216
10.2. Dissolution under the African Union Constitutive act……………………... 219
10.3. Succession………………………………………………………………….. 220

Unit Summary………………………………………………………………………… 214

Chapter Eleven
11. Dispute Settlement in the Framework of the African Union……………………… 223
11.1. The African Court of Justice……………………………………………… 224
11.2. Its Procedure……………………………………………………………… 225
11.3. Its Jurisdiction…………………………………………………………….. 226
11.4. Enforcement of its Decisions……………………………………………... 228

Unit Summary………………………………………………………………………… 229

Chapter Twelve
12. The Intended United States of Africa……………………………………………… 230
12.1. The Prospects……………………………………………………………… 231
12.2. The Challenges…………………………………………………………….. 232
12.2.1. External Challenges………………………………………………. 233
12.2.2. Internal Challenges……………………………………………….. 236

Unit Summary………………………………………………………………………… 241

References…………………………………………………………………………… 243