论文部分内容阅读
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Organization of African Unity（OAU）， which would later become the African Union （AU）. On May 25， 1963， leaders of independent African states signed a charter declaring the OAU’s establishment. The day was also designated as African Liberation Day， or Africa Day—an important memorial holiday.
During the past 50 years， African countries and people have undergone a long journey that began with struggles for freedom and independence and later turned to working on development and unity. They have earned great achievements， but they also face mighty challenges.
Initial goals
When the OAU came into being， over one third of African land was colonized， and native people of South Africa were battling white racism for equality. In the meantime， even independent African countries were being threatened by imperialism and former colonial economic control or separatist activities. Fighting against imperialism and colonialism and realizing the full liberation of the whole continent were Africa’s primary missions during the second half of the 20th century.
The OAU found great success in moving toward Africa’s complete liberation by organizing a Liberation Committee， chaired by Tanzania’s founding President Julius Nyerere， to assist African struggles for independence. In April 1994， South Africa elected Nelson Mandela as president of the new democratic government， marking the continent’s complete libera- tion and decolonization. The OAU Liberation Committee was dismissed in August that year， having fulfilled its historic mission.
The OAU strongly promoted Africa’s unity and economic integration. In 1964， 21 OAU states agreed to establish the Commission on Mediation， Conciliation and Arbitration to address internal disputes and safeguard African unity. With the OAU’s support， many sub-regional economic integration organizations were born from the 1960s onward. In June 1991， the OAU’s 27th Summit passed the Abuja Treaty， which drew a blueprint for the ultimate goal of building an African economic community.
As a regional government organization， the OAU’s functions were inevitably limited by its own capability and resources， willingness of its member states and the international situation. For example， proxy wars took place in Africa during the Cold War， when the United States and the Soviet Union fought for hegemony. Plus， structural problems in the African economy barred the development of economic integration.
During the past 50 years， African countries and people have undergone a long journey that began with struggles for freedom and independence and later turned to working on development and unity. They have earned great achievements， but they also face mighty challenges.
Initial goals
When the OAU came into being， over one third of African land was colonized， and native people of South Africa were battling white racism for equality. In the meantime， even independent African countries were being threatened by imperialism and former colonial economic control or separatist activities. Fighting against imperialism and colonialism and realizing the full liberation of the whole continent were Africa’s primary missions during the second half of the 20th century.
The OAU found great success in moving toward Africa’s complete liberation by organizing a Liberation Committee， chaired by Tanzania’s founding President Julius Nyerere， to assist African struggles for independence. In April 1994， South Africa elected Nelson Mandela as president of the new democratic government， marking the continent’s complete libera- tion and decolonization. The OAU Liberation Committee was dismissed in August that year， having fulfilled its historic mission.
The OAU strongly promoted Africa’s unity and economic integration. In 1964， 21 OAU states agreed to establish the Commission on Mediation， Conciliation and Arbitration to address internal disputes and safeguard African unity. With the OAU’s support， many sub-regional economic integration organizations were born from the 1960s onward. In June 1991， the OAU’s 27th Summit passed the Abuja Treaty， which drew a blueprint for the ultimate goal of building an African economic community.
As a regional government organization， the OAU’s functions were inevitably limited by its own capability and resources， willingness of its member states and the international situation. For example， proxy wars took place in Africa during the Cold War， when the United States and the Soviet Union fought for hegemony. Plus， structural problems in the African economy barred the development of economic integration.