III 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 166 

Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Organization 

of African Unity (OAU) and commending its successor, the African Union. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 10, 2013 

Mr. COONS (for himself and Mr. FLAKE) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the founding of 

the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and commending its successor, the African Union. 

Whereas, on May 25, 1963, 32 newly independent African 

countries signed the Charter of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) to promote unity, solidarity, and political and economic cooperation among themselves, and to 

defend member states’ sovereignty, territorial integrity, 

and independence; 

Whereas upon its inception, the OAU embraced the principles 

of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, including 

freedom of association, free expression, and political participation; 

Whereas such efforts to encourage African unity, advance 

human rights, and promote economic development on the 


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•SRES 166 IS 

continent were undermined by regional conflicts, military 

coups, and civil wars, as well as large foreign debts, increasing trade imbalances, food insecurity, and weak institutions; 

Whereas a decision declaring the establishment of the African 

Union (AU) as a successor organization to the OAU to 

promote democratic principles and institutions, encourage 

economic growth, and develop new tools for the collective 

promotion of regional stability was adopted in Sirte, 

Libya, on March 1, 2001, and March 2, 2001; 

Whereas the vision of the African Union is that of ‘‘an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own 

citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global 

arena’’; 

Whereas the African Union expresses commitment to the essential values of transparency and accountability and promotes democratic processes across the continent of Africa; 

Whereas the African Union departed from the OAU’s abiding 

doctrine of nonintervention in the internal affairs of 

member states in favor of a new policy establishing the 

right of the AU to intervene in a member state under 

grave circumstances, including with respect to war 

crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity; 

Whereas the African Union continues to build more robust 

African regional institutions in order to address the myriad challenges facing the continent, and has established 

an African peace and security architecture, the New 

Partnership for Africa’s Development, a strategic framework for regional socioeconomic development, the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program, and 


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•SRES 166 IS 

the African Peer Review Mechanism, which seeks to help 

advance good governance, among other institutions; 

Whereas the African Union has contributed to regional peace 

and security by mobilizing peacekeeping or intervention 

forces to protect civilians or support political mediation 

missions and peace-building processes in Burundi, 

Comoros, Sudan, Somalia, and Mali; 

Whereas efforts to end conflicts on the continent of Africa, 

which continue to destabilize states, undermine democracy, stifle economic growth and investment, and rob 

young Africans of the opportunity for an education and 

a better life, are a key United States objective; 

Whereas it is critical to the interests of the United States 

that the African Union be capable of effectively addressing current conflicts and preventing future ones, advancing economic growth and broad-based and sustainable 

economic development, and consolidating democracy and 

good governance; 

Whereas the United States Government demonstrated its 

strong commitment to working closely with the AU by establishing a Mission to the African Union in 2006; 

Whereas, on August 3, 2010, the United States and the African Union signed a $5,800,000 multi-year assistance 

agreement to achieve common policy objectives; 

Whereas, on June 14, 2012, President Barack Obama announced a United States Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan 

Africa, which calls on the United States to deepen its 

partnership with African countries and regional organizations by supporting efforts to advance accountable, democratic governance and adherence to human rights norms 

and the rule of law, particularly by supporting the AfriVerDate Mar 15 2010 01:44 Jun 11, 2013 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR166.IS SR166

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can Union African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and 

Governance and other multilateral standards; 

Whereas key goals also supported by the African Union include fostering peace and security, spurring economic 

growth, trade, and investment, and promoting opportunity and development; 

Whereas, on February 1, 2013, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the United States and the 

African Union to cement cooperation on peace and security, democracy and governance, economic growth, trade, 

and investment, and promotion of opportunity and development; 

Whereas the African Union serves as a preeminent dialogue 

and policy-making forum for leaders in Africa seeking to 

advance a wide range of regional political, security, social, and economic objectives, including sub-regional integration, and is a key interlocutor for and representative 

of the people of Africa in international political and policy forums, including the United Nations; and 

Whereas close relations between the United States and the 

African Union mutually benefit the people of the United 

States and Africa and the political, security, economic, 

and cultural relations that link them: Now, therefore, be 

it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) extends warm congratulations to the former 

3 member states of the Organization of African Unity 

4 on the 50th year anniversary of its founding, in par5 ticular its original 32 member states; 


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•SRES 166 IS 

1 (2) commends member states of the African 

2 Union for their strong and determined joint efforts 

3 to promote democratic societies, sustainable develop4 ment, and sound economic practices, and peace, se5 curity, and stability on the continent; 

6 (3) urges the President to continue to strongly 

7 support efforts to advance and strengthen United 

8 States-African Union cooperation, including through 

9 United States programs to help build the capacities 

10 of the African Union; 

11 (4) encourages the President to expedite and 

12 expand United States efforts to achieve the goals 

13 and objectives of his United States Strategy Toward 

14 Sub-Saharan Africa; and 

15 (5) emphasizes the rule of law, good govern16 ance, respect for human rights, open markets, and 

17 broad-based and sustainable economic growth and 

18 development as key pillars for long-term stability 

19 and security in Africa and United States engage20 ment with the continent. 

Æ 


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