The worth of the African Union

[attilavolciak07]

So far in the around 40 years of the African Union, no African dicator has been stopped or even pressured. Civil war, poverty, ethnic tensions are due in part because of de-colonization, but the AU was created to fix up the continent and make an 'African century', however I can't see much change from the start of the AU, when you think of Africa, civil wars and ethnic tensions usually come to mind for me.
Idi Amin, Ugandan despot, even served as chairman of the group (back when it was the OAU). The AU officials suggest that the AU is different from the former institution, Organization of African Unity, however the member base is exactly the same and there has not been any new institutions to prove that the AU isn't the OAU just with a name tweak.

Pro-AUists say that the AU hopes to model the EU (European Union). I want to say that this is almost impossible. Even now, many people do not approve of the EU and there are still scares that it will not hold.
Also, the EU was started near after a time where every country would definetely want peace, and at the time there were no wars raging, but in Africa, war is not an uncommon thing.
Also, the EU is mostly supported by superpowers, whether economic or militarily, and the AU seems to be dominated by 'superpowers' as well, such as South Africa and Nigeria. And Europe's economic troubles are not as much as a task as the African economy is, so in turn most African nations trade with their former colonies and not each others, mostly.
It took forty years for the EU to establish a currency and a bank, how will Africa do, considering all the problems (which meet up with its weak stance on dictators) are twice as bad as the European current situation?

So all in all, if the AU wants a chance to work instead of being a 'for a good cause but can't cause any good' institution, they need the following:

• A tougher stance on African dictators
• Encourage trade with fellow African states

But I honestly believe that trade and aid will have no affect on the continent unless the war is stopped, whether slightly or in full.
What are your opinions of the African Union? :hmmm:

[Philos Sophos]

Remember League of Nations?...that was the same thing.Did it do anything?Nope...

Well,they got to be more agressive towards the dictators and try to co-op more.

[Pickle_mole]

League of Nations, UN, AU, EU all Buerocratic cess pools of curruption that take your freedoms and money.

[YuriVII]

You have to change the concept of International Law. These African dictators for better or worse are legitimate Head of State. As HoS they represent their countries in the AU. Therefore, if the AU is made up of African Dictators, how can they overthrow themselves.To overthrow a HoS because they oppress their people is a dangerous precedent, as there would be very little protection for you as a state from other states who will make this claim against you for their own pragmatic interests. Not to mention, who really wants to be responsible for upholding stability in a basketcase country when South Africa and Nigeria have too many ethnic problems of their own. Nigeria isn't exactly the beacon of democracy, more a beacon of stability (but even that is open to debate).

[Axeman]

Yes , all the dictators will be agressive towards other dictators , thats like telling the corrupt police they need to arrest themselves. The AU was founded with intentions of being the EU of africa , it failed miseribley , today its only purpose is to gather so they can discuss an advance what they will all vote on for the better of individiual countries in the fashion of "you scratch my back I scratch yours"?