In honor of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Organization of African Unity, and commending its successor — the African Union — Senator Coons was proud to sponsor a resolution that the Senate passed unanimously on Wednesday night. Senator Jeff Flake, ranking member of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa, cosponsored the resolution.
“This resolution commends the African Union on its increasingly positive contribution to peace, security and development across the continent,” Senator Coons said. “As chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa, it is my hope that the AU continues to play a constructive role in the region.”
In 2007, the new AU adopted a charter that aims to “reinforce commitments to democracy, development and peace in Africa.” Notably, the African Union departed from the OAU’s strict doctrine of nonintervention in the internal affairs of member states, which had impeded its ability to address serious governance, conflict or human rights issues. The AU is now able to intervene in a member state under certain circumstances, including with respect to war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity. African Union peacekeeping forces, political mediation missions, and other peace-building processes have been instrumental in ending conflict and bringing stability to Burundi, Comoros, Sudan, Somalia, and Mali.
The AU’s new chairwoman, Nkhosazana Dlamini-Zuma from South Africa, has promised to focus on strengthening regional integration, economic development, and good governance during her term as Chair.
A week ago, Senator Coons chaired a Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa hearing on prospects for democratic reform and economic recovery in Zimbabwe. Panelists highlighted the need for the coalition government of Zimbabwe to carry out previously agreed electoral and democratic reforms as a precondition for free and fair elections later this year. Meaningful AU engagement with the government of Zimbabwe and the Southern African Development Community to advance democratic reform in Zimbabwe would be a positive signal that the AU is committed to realizing the promise of its charter.