IV 
113TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 234 
Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Organization 
of African Unity (OAU) and commending its successor, the African Union. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 23, 2013 
Ms. BASS (for herself and Mr. HONDA) submitted the following resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
RESOLUTION 
Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the founding of 
the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and com-
mending its successor, the African Union. 
Whereas on May 25, 1963, 32 newly independent African 
countries signed the Charter of the Organization of Afri-
can Unity (OAU) to promote unity, solidarity, and polit-
ical 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 par-
ticipation; 
Whereas such efforts to encourage African unity, advance 
human rights, and promote economic development on the 
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•HRES 234 IH 
continent were undermined by regional conflicts, military 
coups, and civil wars, as well as large foreign debts, in-
creasing trade imbalances, food insecurity, and inequity; 
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 inte-
grated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own 
citizens and representing a dynamic force in global 
arena’’; 
Whereas the African Union expresses commitment to the es-
sential values of transparency and accountability, and 
promotes democratic processes across the continent of Af-
rica; 
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 the affairs of 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 myr-
iad challenges facing the continent, and has established 
an African peace and security architecture, the New 
Partnership for Africa’s Development, a strategic frame-
work for regional socioeconomic development, the Com-
prehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program, and 
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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 democ-
racy, 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 well-resourced and capable of 
effectively addressing current conflicts and preventing fu-
ture ones, advancing socioeconomic development and eco-
nomic growth, and consolidating democracy and good 
governance; 
Whereas the United States Government demonstrated its 
strong commitment to working closely with the AU by es-
tablishing a Mission to the African Union in 2006; 
Whereas on August 3, 2010, the United States and the Afri-
can Union signed a $5,800,000 multi-year assistance 
agreement to achieve common policy objectives in the 
areas of peace and security, economic development, re-
gional integration, health and social welfare, and good 
governance on the African continent; 
Whereas on June 14, 2012, President Obama announced a 
United States Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa, 
which calls on the United States to deepen its partner-
ship with African countries and regional organizations by 
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supporting efforts to advance accountable, democratic 
governance, and adherence to human rights norms and 
the rule of law, particularly by supporting the African 
Union African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and 
Governance and other multilateral standards; 
Whereas key goals also supported by the African Union in-
clude fostering peace and security, spuring economic 
growth, trade, and investment; and promoting oppor-
tunity and development; 
Whereas on February 1, 2013, a Memorandum of Under-
standing was signed between the United States and the 
African Union to cement cooperation on peace and secu-
rity; democracy, and governance, economic growth, trade, 
and investment, and promotion of opportunity and devel-
opment; 
Whereas the African Union serves as a preeminent dialogue 
and policy-making forum for African leaders seeking to 
advance a wide-range of regional political, security, so-
cial, and economic objectives, including sub-regional inte-
gration, and is a key interlocutor for and representative 
of the people of Africa in international political and pol-
icy forums, including the United Nations; and 
Whereas close relations between the United States the Afri-
can Union mutually benefit the people of the United 
States and Africa and the political, security, economic, 
and social relations that link them: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) extends warm congratulations to the former 
member states of the Organization of African Unity 
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