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African Union marks 50 years
(AP) – African nations this week mark the 50th year since the founding of a continent-wide organization that spearheaded efforts to liberate Africa from colonialism. Now leaders want to map out the next 50 years of political and economic integration.
Its primary mandate was to liberate Africa from the shackles of colonialism and apartheid. The weeklong 50-year celebrations culminate Saturday in the Ethiopian capital where African leaders will be joined by foreign dignitaries including United States Secretary of State John Kerry. African leaders will also consider Agenda 2063, a blueprint they say will bring socio-economic and political transformation to the continent.
Kerry, who recently expressed concerns over China’s growing influence in Africa, is expected to be joined by Chinese President Xi Jinping’s special representative, Vice Premier Wang Yang, at the celebrations.
The 53-member African Union, which replaced the Organization of African Unity in 2002, has been quite successful as a force for stability on the continent.
One key achievement of the Organization of African Unity – now the African Union “has been to set standards and norms that we are now using at the continental level,” said Erastus Mwencha, deputy chair of the AU. “We are now talking of having norms such as a protocol on governance, on elections and so forth.”
As the African Union strives to make peaceful transfers of power across Africa the norm, it often sanctions coup leaders and suspends membership of states.
The African Union is also a long way from its founders’ dream of a united Africa. The continent sees a huge disparity in the economic and political conditions of its nations.
