The African Union : the Hope for Tomorrow

The African Union : The Hope for Tomorrow Africa. A continent rich in culture and natural beauty. It is home to the longest river in the world, the oldest desert, and the tallest free-standing mountain. However, the continent is plagued by the lowest literacy rates, the largest number of cases of HIV and AIDS, and some of the least developed nations in the world. These concerns have become just a few of the issues facing the African Union. This organization carries the hope of the nation to finally bring African to a modern and progressive society. According to BBC News, “the African Union, or AU, is a pan-African organization whose goal is to propel a united continent towards peace and prosperity. It aims to boost development, eradicate poverty and bring Africa into the global economy”. It is the goal of this organization to unite a continent, still damaged from the effects of early colonization, and create a new future for alls its citizens. This objective is most clearly defined in an excerpt from the official Anthem of the AU entitled, Let Us All Unite and Celebrate Together: Let us all unite and celebrate together The victories won for our liberation Let us dedicate ourselves to rise together To defend our liberty and unity O Sons and Daughters of Africa Flesh of the Sun and Flesh of the Sky Let us make Africa the Tree of Life This excerpt most clearly shows that the seed for progress has been planted and it is up to the people to allow that Tree to grow. It is through understanding the origins of this organization that one may more clearly understand its current situation and the possibilities for its future. The African Union was established in 2001. It was an organization formed to replace the corrupt and inefficient Organization of African Unity (OAU). The OAU was organized at a time when “Africa was coming out of colonial rule and many [leaders] had led their nations to independence. [However], Critics argued that the OAU in particular did little to...