African Union
The African Union was established on 9 July 2002 in Durban, South Africa to replace the Organization of African Unity (OAU). The OAU was formed in 1963 to integrate the African continent politically and economically, as well as to support the process of decolonisation and to promote Pan-Africanism. In 1999, taking into account new challenges for African societies, vast political changes within the member states and numerous critical voices on functioning of the OAU the leaders decided to launch a new organization.
The headquater of the African Union (AU) is situated in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The 55 member states have signed the AU Constitutive Act of 11 July 2000 and the Protocol on Amendements of 2 February 2003. According to those documents the organs of the Union shall be: the Assembly of the Union, the Executive Council, the Pan-African Parliement, the Court of Justice, the AU Commission, the Permanent Representatives Committee, the Specialized Technical Committees, the Economic, Social and Cultural Council and the Financial Institutions. Later the Peace and Security Council was established to prevent, manage and resolve conflicts. The AU PSC undertakes peacemaking and peacebuilding operation. The Ambassador of Poland to Ethiopia is also accredited to the AU.
Poland in the African Union
High representatives of the AU visited Poland on numerous occations, i.e. at the Africa – Central Europe Economic Forum in Katowice. Deputy Minister of the Polish MFA took part in the 2016 and 2017 AU Summit. In May 2017, for the first time in history the President of Poland, Andrzej Duda had a speech at the AU.
Poland’s economic relations with the member states of the African Union vary with South Africa, Morocco and Algeria being the most significant partners. The total volume of Polish trade with Africa reaches 4.4 billion EUR. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement signed in March 2018 in Kigali gives an opportunity to increase trade between African and European partners.
Links: