IV
107TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. RES. 490
Concerning the formation of the African Union.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JULY 17, 2002
Mr. FATTAH (for himself, Mr. PAYNE, and Mr. MEEKS of New York) sub-
mitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on
International Relations
RESOLUTION
Concerning the formation of the African Union.
Whereas upon the conclusion of World War II, the United
Nations Charter committed all colonial powers to develop
full self-governance and free political institutions in the
territories under their control;
Whereas in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, colonial powers
generally recognized that African colonies would soon
gain independence;
Whereas in 1963, newly independent African states signed
the Charter of the Organization of African Unity (OAU)
to promote African solidarity and intensify efforts to im-
prove living standards;
•HRES 490 IH
Whereas such efforts to promote solidarity and stability on
the continent were undermined by regional conflicts, mili-
tary coups, and civil war;
Whereas the OAU’s efforts to promote stability and pros-
perity were further stymied by a general policy of non-
interference and respect for territorial integrity in their
relations with other member states;
Whereas sub-Saharan African countries face monumental
debt and increasing trade imbalances, accounting for only
2 percent of all world trade;
Whereas the per capita income of Africans has decreased
while the global economy expands;
Whereas the United States enacted several initiatives to im-
prove United States economic relations with sub-Saharan
Africa, including the African Growth and Opportunity
Act, which offers trade and other economic benefits to
sub-Saharan countries that are committed to economic
reform;
Whereas the African Union (AU) was created as a successor
organization to the OAU to further encourage economic
growth and accelerated integration into the global econ-
omy;
Whereas South African President Thabo Mbeki was selected
as chairman of the newly formed AU to lead reform ef-
forts;
Whereas the AU will abandon the OAU’s policy of non-inter-
vention of internal affairs of member states in favor of
a new policy of intervention in cases of genocide, war
crimes, or gross violations of human rights;
Whereas the AU will create peacekeeping forces, a security
council, and a legislature to enforce this new policy;
•HRES 490 IH
Whereas one of the centerpieces of AU will be the implemen-
tation of the New Partnership for African Development
(NEPAD), which proposes to obtain increased investment
and trade opportunities from the West with a promise
from African nations to commit to good governance, de-
mocracy, and peace; and
Whereas NEPAD supporters estimate that the successful im-
plementation of the proposal could create up to
$64,000,000 annually to be used towards debt relief, and
investment and trade opportunities: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep-
resentatives that—
(1) member states of the newly formed African
Union (AU) should be commended for their efforts
in creating an organization dedicated to establishing
democratic and economic reform;
(2) the President should encourage domestic
and international support of the AU and the imple-
mentation of the New Partnership for African Devel-
opment (NEPAD) plan;
(3) the President should further promote and
encourage private investment and growth in Africa,
including public-private partnerships; and
(4) the United States should continue to estab-
lish and carry out economic initiatives that will fur-
ther economic and social reform in Africa.
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