Constitutive Act of the African Union Adopted by the thirty-sixth ordinary session of the assembly of heads of States and Governments 11 JULY, 2000 - LOME , TOGO (Excerpts)

Preamble

We, Heads of State and Government of the Member States of the Organization of African Unity (OAU)

.

INSPIRED by the noble ideals which guided the founding fathers of our Continental Organization and generations of Pan-Africanists in their determination to promote unity, solidarity, cohesion and cooperation among the peoples of Africa and African States ;

CONSIDERING the principles and objectives stated in the Charter of the Organization of African Unity and the Treaty establishing the African Economic Community;

RECALLING the heroic struggles waged by our peoples and our countries for political independence, human dignity and economic emancipation;

CONSIDERING that since its inception, the Organization of African Unity has played a determining and invaluable role in the liberation of the continent, the affirmation of a common identity and the process of attainment of the unity of our Continent and has provided a unique framework for our collective action in Africa and in our relations with the rest of the world;

DETERMINED to take up the multifaceted challenges that confront our continent and peoples in the light of the social, economic and political changes taking place in the world;

CONVINCED of the need to accelerate the process of implementing the Treaty establishing the African Economic Community in order to promote the socioeconomic development of Africa and to face more effectively the challenges posed by globalization;

GUIDED by our common vision of a united and strong Africa and by the need to build a partnership between governments and all segments of civil society, in particular women, youth and the private sector in order to strengthen solidarity and cohesion among our peoples;

CONSCIOUS of the fact that the scourge of conflicts in Africa constitutes a major impediment to the socio-economic development of the continent and of the need to promote peace, security and stability as a prerequisite for the implementation of our development and integration agenda;

DETERMINED to promote and protect human and peoples' rights, consolidate

democratic institutions and culture, and to ensure good governance and the rule

of law;

FURTHER DETERMINED to take all necessary measures to strengthen our common institutions and provide them with the necessary powers and resources to enable them discharge their respective mandates effectively;

RECALLING the Declaration which we adopted at the Fourth Extraordinary Session of our Assembly in Sirte, the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, on 9.9. 99, in which we decided to establish an African Union, in conformity with the ultimate objectives of the Charter of our Continental Organization and the Treaty establishing the African Economic Community;

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

.

Article 3 (Objectives)

The objectives of the Union shall be to:

.

(f) Promote peace, security, and stability on the continent;

(g) promote democratic principles and institutions, popular participation and good governance

(h) Promote and protect human and peoples' rights in accordance with the

African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and other relevant human rights instruments;

Article 4 (Principles)

The Union shall function in accordance with the following principles:

.

(m) respect for democratic principles, human rights, the rule of law and good governance

.

(p) condemnation and rejection of unconstitutional changes of governments

.

Article 17 (The Pan-African Parliament)

(1) In order to ensure the full participation of African peoples in the development and economic integration of the continent, a Pan-African Parliament shall be established.