Organisation of African Unity

Organisation of African Unity Organisation de l'unité africaine
1963–2002
Flag Emblem
Anthem: "Let Us All Unite and Celebrate Together"
OAU during its foundation
Capital	Addis Ababa
Secretary-general
• 1963–1964	Kifle Wodajo
• 1964–1972	Diallo Telli
• 1972–1974	Nzo Ekangaki
• 1974–1978	William Eteki
• 1978–1983	Edem Kodjo
• 1983–1985	Peter Onu
• 1985–1989	Ide Oumarou
• 1989–2001	Salim Ahmed Salim
• 2001–2002	Amara Essy
History
• Charter	25 May[citation needed] 1963
• Disbanded	9 July 2002
Preceded by Succeeded by Casablanca Group Monrovia Group African Union
a Headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The Organisation of African Unity (OAU; French: Organisation de l'unité africaine, OUA) was an African intergovernmental organization established on 25 May 1963 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with 33 signatory governments.^[1][a] Some of the key aims of the OAU were to encourage political and economic integration among member states, and to eradicate colonialism and neo-colonialism from the African continent.^[2]

The absence of an armed force like the United Nations peacekeepers left the organization with no means to enforce its decisions. It was also unwilling to become involved in the internal affairs of member nations, prompting some critics to claim the OAU as a ineffective in taking decisive action. Recognizing this, in September 1999 the OAU issued the Sirte Declaration, calling for a new body to take its place. On 9 July 2002, the OAU's Chairman, South African President Thabo Mbeki, formally dissolved the OAU and replaced it with the African Union (AU), its immediate successor, which upholds many of the founding principles of the OAU.^[3]

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