African countries celebrate May 25 as the Africa Day ever since 30 independent African nations founded the Organization of the African Unity on May 25, 1963.

Despite OAU’s success in treating several of the continent’s vital issues, most leaders felt the need for the development of the organization so that the continent can catch up with the challenges of the new world order. The idea of the African Union to replace OAU was mooted at the Libyan city of Sert in 1999. The formal emergence of the AU was seen at the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa at a conference attended by eminent African leaders from all walks of life in July last year. Observers from the European Union and the United States also attended the meeting in which the objectives of the new organization were declared.

The AU aims at moving toward the political, economic and social integration of Africa. It will strive to enhance respect for human rights and constitutions in the region. It also aims at setting up an African Parliament.

The union will make efforts to get maximum participation of the people and governments in the continent in the activities of the union. Setting up special economic and social councils and an African court of human rights are among its other objectives.

The union will also set up a body to monitor the compliance by member countries of the decisions taken by it.

The union will ensure the African participation in the war on terror.

The most significant function of the new union is to settle disputes among member countries. It will have to find ways and means of transforming the continent from a state of constant wars to a sanctuary of peace. That is why a considerable amount of time at the Addis Ababa conference was devoted to finding solutions to the countless disputes.

The past 40 years of the OAU’s activities point to the sad fact that the interminable wrangles and disputes among Africans themselves were responsible for the economic stagnation of a continent rich in resources. Its people remain the poorest in the world.

The modern African history reveals that when the European colonial powers decided to cut up the continent they did not give due consideration to the demographic complexion of the region. This unscientific division of Africa into several countries paved the way for the interminable feuds between various tribes in one country or between neighboring countries.

The colonial powers were also suspected of sowing discords and confusion when they reluctantly left their colonies. This means the union’s success and survival will depend to a great extent on its success to solve Africa’s internal problems.