The 1960's and the 1970's marked a great Pan-African movement in Africa, that saw the liberation of most African states. This Pan-African movement, was spearheaded by a quest to unite Africa, and to abate foreign occupation. Amidst the spirit of unity, lay a promise of an organization that would embody the hopes and aspirations of a continent undergoing a re-birth; a progression towards self-determination, economic development and integration, and the maintenance of peace. Therefore, the inception ofthe Organization of African Unity (OAD) was not only a symbol of a unifying force for Africans, but a diplomatic platform that would promote African needs on the international arena. In effect the OAU, at its inception, was for specific ideals that would guarantee liberation and unity of African states. The outcome of these ideals would be greater regional economic integration and the achievement of peace and stability. These ideals mirrored the structural definition of regional organization, with the inclusion of a Commission for Mediation Arbitration and Conciliation under the OAU Charter, to handle disputes among member states. However, the mere fact that this commission lacked the political wherewithal to resolve conflicts, by its sheer lack of a standing peacekeeping force, contributed to the inefficiency of the organization to play an effective role in conflict management. This study attempts to examine the role ofthe OAU in settling disputes. The study sought to accomplish this, in the following manner. Firstly, an investigation into the nature of conflict and why it persists in Africa was conducted. Further, an examination ofthe tools that practitioners utilize not only to study conflict, but to prevent, manage and resolve it, was done. During the investigation it was found that, although the OAU's greatest successes have come from preventive diplomacy, its structural foundations limit the capabilities of the organization to become more relevant. The Charter of the OAU alludes vaguely to the settlement of disputes, but without an executive political decision-making body able to deploy peacekeepers, its principles are largely meaningless. Amidst the growing concerns, the OAU as a matter of survival, developed initiatives it hopes will make it more effective and relevant. The focus ofthe study was the evolving role ofthe OAU, from its inception to its new role as an instrument of conflict resolution. Most of the scholarly work conducted on the OAU, is concerned with depicting a terminal organization, with little or no hope of surviving. Little emphasis is placed on prescribing remedies on how to improve and restructure the organization. The findings included, inter alia, that the organization is faced with enormous challenges, as the sources of conflict are varied and complex. Africa is now the landscape of collapsed states, economic stagnation, environmental degradation, disease and chronic conflicts. The OAU shoulders much ofthe responsibility for not sanctioning governments that contribute to the decay and suffering of the African peoples. Most ofthe criticism of the OAU, stem from the inability of the organization to play an effective role in resolving conflicts in Africa. Most of Africa's conflicts stem from a lack of political legitimacy, lack of democratic institutions, uneven distribution of resources, ethnic tensions and economic stagnation. Until such problems are addressed, Africa will continue to host the world's deadliest conflicts.

This inquiry was prompted by the resurgence of the phenomenon of coups in Africa in the recent past. The most recent wave of coups has brought the phenomenon under the scrutiny of continental and international bodies. Unlike in the first three decades after independence, which were characterized by inaction and indifference in the face of coups, in recent times African leaders are determined to stem the tide of coups through an unprecedented set of continental and sub-regional norms and collective action. The mini-thesis analyses traditional, and modern security paradigms, as well as comparative politics in order to understand and situate African coups. It argues that the African coup oscillates between the realist, organizational and praetorian paradigms of civil-military relations. Unlike its predecessor, the moribund Organisaton of African Unity (OAU), the African Union (AU) through normative instruments has demonstrated greater enthusiasm not only in reversing the coup tide, but more fundamentally in entrenching a culture of democracy and good governance. Its pronouncements and active engagement in coup-affected countries have been consistent, unambiguous and forthright. In conclusion, the mini-thesis identifies and assesses a myriad of factors at state and regional levels, as well the interests of foreign actors which have over the years conspired to limit the ability of continental bodies to deal effectively with unconstitutional changes of government. These factors, which are largely located at state level, at the core of which is the nature and form of the African state, need to be addressed first in order to rid the continent of the coup contagion. / Dissertation (MDiplomatic Studies)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Political Sciences / unrestricted

The primary purpose of this thesis is to examine the role of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in the Nigerian civil war, 1967-1970. The working hypothesis of this thesis is that as a result of (1) conservatism of the OAU; (2) Article 3, paragraphs II and III of.the OAU Charter; and (3) the influence of foreign powers on the OAU, the Organization has not been very successful in handling African conflicts. The purposes of this study necessitated researching a wide array of literature on the Organization of African Unity, conflicts in Africa since 1963, and the Nigerian civil war.

Africa has for a long time been embattled by differing acts of terrorism, with divergent manifestations such as suicide bombing, killings and hijacking. Accordingly, the Organisation of African Unity and subsequently the African Union took up the responsibility of developing strategies to counter the menacing trend of terrorism on the continent. To this end, several counter terrorism interventions were created. The first of Africa's interventions was developed as early as 1992, when the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) member states adopted a Resolution to strengthen cooperation and coordination among African states against different manifestations of extremism. Although, there is abundance of scholarly literature on the subject of understanding of terrorism and its human rights implications and also on the impact of terrorism on political pluralism, there is a dearth of scholarly writings on the activities of the African Union in relation to terrorism in Africa, particularly on whether the Union is responding positively to its counter terrorism agenda. Yet, the role of the African Union in this regard on the continent cannot be over emphasised. This study is therefore carried out to scrutinise the counter terrorism agenda of the African Union and explore its counter terrorism activities from inception till date. In ascertaining the necessity for the African Union to develop ways to adequately implement its counter terrorism agenda, the study carries out an assessment of the agenda and established its link with the United Nations counter terrorism framework. Recommendations about how best the agenda can be realised concludes the study. Specifically, the research explores the activities of the African Union with the aim of determining whether the agenda was merely paved with good intentions. While many weaknesses of the agenda were discovered and discussed in depth, the research concludes, that despite the gap that exists between the agenda and its implementation and the problem of resources bedevilling the implementation of the agenda, it will be unfair to describe the African Union counter terrorism agenda as merely paved with good intentions in the lights of numerous positive steps that have been taken towards translating the agenda into full implementation. / Dissertation (LLM)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / gm2014 / Centre for Human Rights / unrestricted

A busca pela pacificação da África pode ser considerada como um dos principais desafios encontrados pelos países africanos no imediato pós-independência. Em certa medida, romper com guerras civis e garantir a estabilidade continental foram se tornando algumas das principais preocupações das lideranças africanas. Reflexo disso pode ser encontrado nas várias iniciativas propriamente africanas criadas no continente no período pós-colonial visando à estabilidade e à promoção do desenvolvimento econômico e social do continente. Nesse sentido, o presente trabalho busca compreender a evolução da Arquitetura Africana de Paz e Segurança (AAPS) desde a criação da Organização da Unidade Africana (OUA), em 1963 – primeiro mecanismo africano de segurança –, até os dias atuais, com foco na Autoridade Intergovernamental para o Desenvolvimento (IGAD) na estabilização do Chifre da África. / The search for the pacification of Africa may be considered as one of the main challenges found by African countries in the post-independence immediate period. To some extent, to break off civil wars and guarantee continentall estability increasingly became a major concern of African leaderships. The impact of this can be found in several truly African initiatives created in the post-colonial period, aiming to ensure stabilty and promotion of economic and social development on the continent. In this sense, this work seeks to comprehend the evolution of the African Architecture of Peace and Security (AAPS) since the creation of the Organization of the African Unity in 1963 - first African security mechanism - up to this day, focusing in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in the estabilisation of the Horn of Africa.

Thesis (doctoral)--Universität Hannover, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 259-276).

A busca pela pacificação da África pode ser considerada como um dos principais desafios encontrados pelos países africanos no imediato pós-independência. Em certa medida, romper com guerras civis e garantir a estabilidade continental foram se tornando algumas das principais preocupações das lideranças africanas. Reflexo disso pode ser encontrado nas várias iniciativas propriamente africanas criadas no continente no período pós-colonial visando à estabilidade e à promoção do desenvolvimento econômico e social do continente. Nesse sentido, o presente trabalho busca compreender a evolução da Arquitetura Africana de Paz e Segurança (AAPS) desde a criação da Organização da Unidade Africana (OUA), em 1963 – primeiro mecanismo africano de segurança –, até os dias atuais, com foco na Autoridade Intergovernamental para o Desenvolvimento (IGAD) na estabilização do Chifre da África. / The search for the pacification of Africa may be considered as one of the main challenges found by African countries in the post-independence immediate period. To some extent, to break off civil wars and guarantee continentall estability increasingly became a major concern of African leaderships. The impact of this can be found in several truly African initiatives created in the post-colonial period, aiming to ensure stabilty and promotion of economic and social development on the continent. In this sense, this work seeks to comprehend the evolution of the African Architecture of Peace and Security (AAPS) since the creation of the Organization of the African Unity in 1963 - first African security mechanism - up to this day, focusing in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in the estabilisation of the Horn of Africa.

A busca pela pacificação da África pode ser considerada como um dos principais desafios encontrados pelos países africanos no imediato pós-independência. Em certa medida, romper com guerras civis e garantir a estabilidade continental foram se tornando algumas das principais preocupações das lideranças africanas. Reflexo disso pode ser encontrado nas várias iniciativas propriamente africanas criadas no continente no período pós-colonial visando à estabilidade e à promoção do desenvolvimento econômico e social do continente. Nesse sentido, o presente trabalho busca compreender a evolução da Arquitetura Africana de Paz e Segurança (AAPS) desde a criação da Organização da Unidade Africana (OUA), em 1963 – primeiro mecanismo africano de segurança –, até os dias atuais, com foco na Autoridade Intergovernamental para o Desenvolvimento (IGAD) na estabilização do Chifre da África. / The search for the pacification of Africa may be considered as one of the main challenges found by African countries in the post-independence immediate period. To some extent, to break off civil wars and guarantee continentall estability increasingly became a major concern of African leaderships. The impact of this can be found in several truly African initiatives created in the post-colonial period, aiming to ensure stabilty and promotion of economic and social development on the continent. In this sense, this work seeks to comprehend the evolution of the African Architecture of Peace and Security (AAPS) since the creation of the Organization of the African Unity in 1963 - first African security mechanism - up to this day, focusing in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in the estabilisation of the Horn of Africa.

The purpose of this study is to analyse the role of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) as an international governmental organisation in regional co-operation and stability from 1963 until 2000. It is also aims to evaluate the OAU's success or failure as the initiator of African unity and the driver of regional co-operation and stability in Africa within political, economic and social spheres. As background, the motivation for the study is discussed and the problem is stated. From this, research questions are formulated, and objectives identified. Three hypotheses are formed, which the study aimed to prove. The range of core theoretical foundations, concepts, characteristics, theories, approaches and classifications are examined in detail as foundations for an understanding and evaluation of the role of the OAU. Regional organisations as a phenomenon are also studied in-depth with reference to their nature, meaning and historical origins. Inter-state relations in the international community are theoretically explored, as well as the position and potential of regionalism within international public administration. Concepts, characteristics, types and functions of regional organisations and the role of co-operation, sovereignty and supra-nationalism in regional co-operation are covered. Following this, a study is made of the historical origins, nature and character of Pan-Africanism and the evolution of the OAU. Based on the structural-functional approach, the nature and essential characteristics of the organisation are analysed, with reference to its structures, and the tasks of the Secretary-General and its various commissions. In addition, the former relationship between the OAU and the UN is also highlighted. The role of the OAU is evaluated as a regional organisation involved in the establishment of regional co-operation in Africa in the political, economic, cultural and social spheres. The study concludes with an evaluative synthesis of its findings, proposals and conclusions. The OAU is found to have been successful in certain regards, but in others, it failed to attain its primary purpose: to forge unity on the continent and to create co-operation among states. Its successor, the African Union could learn some valuable lessons from the OAU's history. / Public Administration / (D.P.A.)

The purpose of this study is to analyse the role of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) as an international governmental organisation in regional co-operation and stability from 1963 until 2000. It is also aims to evaluate the OAU's success or failure as the initiator of African unity and the driver of regional co-operation and stability in Africa within political, economic and social spheres. As background, the motivation for the study is discussed and the problem is stated. From this, research questions are formulated, and objectives identified. Three hypotheses are formed, which the study aimed to prove. The range of core theoretical foundations, concepts, characteristics, theories, approaches and classifications are examined in detail as foundations for an understanding and evaluation of the role of the OAU. Regional organisations as a phenomenon are also studied in-depth with reference to their nature, meaning and historical origins. Inter-state relations in the international community are theoretically explored, as well as the position and potential of regionalism within international public administration. Concepts, characteristics, types and functions of regional organisations and the role of co-operation, sovereignty and supra-nationalism in regional co-operation are covered. Following this, a study is made of the historical origins, nature and character of Pan-Africanism and the evolution of the OAU. Based on the structural-functional approach, the nature and essential characteristics of the organisation are analysed, with reference to its structures, and the tasks of the Secretary-General and its various commissions. In addition, the former relationship between the OAU and the UN is also highlighted. The role of the OAU is evaluated as a regional organisation involved in the establishment of regional co-operation in Africa in the political, economic, cultural and social spheres. The study concludes with an evaluative synthesis of its findings, proposals and conclusions. The OAU is found to have been successful in certain regards, but in others, it failed to attain its primary purpose: to forge unity on the continent and to create co-operation among states. Its successor, the African Union could learn some valuable lessons from the OAU's history. / Public Administration and Management / (D.P.A.)