The African Union, AU, is a pan-African organization whose aims are to promote unity and solidarity of African countries. The AU replaced the Organization of African Unity, OAU (which had been established on 25 May 1963). The move to replace the OAU was headed by Colonel Muammar al-Qaddafi, who wished to create a body similar to that of the European Union – with an emphasis on economic collaboration. The AU was launched at the Durban Summit in 2002 with Thabo Mbeki as chairman. A Pan-African Parliament was inaugurated in 2004 and a peacekeeping force set up.

The predecessor of the African Union, the Organization of African Unity, became known internationally as the 'Dictators' Club', and whilst the AU has a voluntary 'peer review' process, several member states are still run by autocrats, and the body seems unable to deal with serious African concerns such as the current Dafur Crisis or the on going conflict in Somalia.

^{Image: © African Union}