Editing Organisation of African Unity (section)

{{Short description|African international body (1963–2002)}}
{{For|the successor organisation|African Union}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{use British English|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox Former International Organization
| conventional_long_name = Organisation of African Unity
| native_name            = ''Organisation de l'unité africaine''
| common_name            = Organisation for African Unity (OAU)
| image_flag             = Flag of the Organization of African Unity (1970-2002).svg
| flag_alt               = Flag of the Organisation for African Unity
| image_coat             = Emblem of the African Union.svg
| coat_alt               = Emblem of the Organisation for African Unity
| symbol_type            =[[Emblem of the African Union|Emblem]]
|national_anthem                 = "[[Let Us All Unite and Celebrate Together]]"{{parabr}}{{center|}}
| image_map              = Organization of African Unity Map.svg
| map_caption            = OAU during its foundation
| event_start            = Charter
| date_start             = 25 May{{citation needed|date=July 2018}}
| year_start             = 1963
| event_end              = Disbanded
| date_end               = 9 July
| year_end               = 2002
| p1                     = Casablanca Group
| p2                     = Monrovia Group
| s1                     = African Union
| flag_s1                = Flag of the African Union.svg
| capital                = [[Addis Ababa]]
| title_leader           = [[Secretary General of the Organisation of African Unity|Secretary-general]] 
| leader1                = Kifle Wodajo
| year_leader1           = 1963–1964
| leader2                = Diallo Telli
| year_leader2           = 1964–1972
| leader3                = Nzo Ekangaki
| year_leader3           = 1972–1974
| leader4                = William Eteki
| year_leader4           = 1974–1978
| leader5                = Edem Kodjo
| year_leader5           = 1978–1983
| leader6                = Peter Onu
| year_leader6           = 1983–1985
| leader7                = Ide Oumarou
| year_leader7           = 1985–1989
| leader8                = Salim Ahmed Salim
| year_leader8           = 1989–2001
| leader9                = Amara Essy
| year_leader9           = 2001–2002
| footnotes              = <sup>a</sup> Headquartered in [[Addis Ababa]], [[Ethiopia]]
}}

The '''Organisation of African Unity''' ('''OAU'''; {{langx|fr|Organisation de l'unité africaine}}, OUA)<ref name="UIA">{{Cite web |url=https://uia.org/s/or/en/1100018734 |url-access= |title=Organization of African Unity (OAU) |author1=Staff writer |year=2025 |department=UIA Global Civil Society Database |website=uia.org |publisher=[[Union of International Associations]] |agency=Yearbook of International Organizations Online |location=Brussels, Belgium |format= |arxiv= |asin= |bibcode= |doi= |doi-broken-date= |isbn= |issn= |jfm= |jstor= |lccn= |mr= |oclc= |ol= |osti= |pmc= |pmid= |rfc= |ssrn= |zbl= |id= |access-date=8 January 2025 |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |via= |quote= |trans-quote= |ref= |postscript=}}</ref> was an African [[intergovernmental organization]] established on 25 May 1963 in [[Addis Ababa]], [[Ethiopia]], with 33 signatory governments.<ref name="dfa.gov.za">{{cite web|url=http://www.dirco.gov.za/foreign/Multilateral/africa/oau.htm|title=Department of International Relations and Cooperation – South Africa|website=dfa.gov.za|access-date=10 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204035937/http://www.dfa.gov.za/foreign/Multilateral/africa/oau.htm|archive-date=4 February 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>{{efn|Due to the union of [[Tanganyika (1961–1964)|Tanganyika]] and [[Zanzibar]] into [[Tanzania]] about a year later, the 33 original signatories represent 32 modern states.}} Some of the key aims of the OAU were to encourage political and [[economic integration]] among member states, and to eradicate [[colonialism]] and [[neo-colonialism]] from the [[African continent]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=African Union (See also – Organization of African Unity (OAU)) Archives|url=https://www.un.org/unispal/document-source/african-union-see-also-organization-of-african-unity-oau/|access-date=2021-05-27|website=Question of Palestine|language=en-US}}</ref>

The absence of an armed force like the [[United Nations]] [[United Nations peacekeeping|peacekeepers]] left the organization with no means to enforce its decisions. It was also unwilling to become involved in the internal affairs of member nations, prompting some critics to claim the OAU as ineffective in taking decisive action. Recognizing this, in September 1999 the OAU issued the [[Sirte Declaration]], calling for a new body to take its place. On 9 July 2002, the OAU's [[Chairperson of the Organisation of African Unity|Chairman]], [[President of South Africa|South African President]] [[Thabo Mbeki]], formally dissolved the OAU and replaced it with the [[African Union]] (AU), its immediate successor, which upholds many of the founding principles of the OAU.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Beverton|first=Alys|date=2009-05-10|title=Organization of African Unity (1963–2002) |url=https://www.blackpast.org/global-african-history/organization-african-unity-1963-2002/|access-date=2021-05-27|language=en-US}}</ref>