A Comparative Analysis of the Charter of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the Constitutive Act of the African Union (AU)

Abstract

This article takes a critical look at comparative analysis of the Charter of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the Constitutive Act of the African Union (AU). In doing so, the article will compare the organs and institutions of both the OAU and the AU. It will also access the achievements and failures of the two bodies and in doing this, the article will argue that if OAU has been performing as expected, there will be no need for the AU. It will in addition go further to list some provisions in the Constitutive Act of the AU that were not included in the Charter of the OAU. It will also argue that in modeling the AU like the European Union (EU), there has been no linkage in the achievements of this continental body that can make it comparable to the EU. Also, in accessing the AU, this paper will proffer answer to the question, whether there has been any significant change since AU come on board, or if it was just a name change. Finally, the article will conclude by making recommendations and suggestions for better performance of the continental body before it clocks twenty (20) years.