The Assembly of the African Union, which is formally known as the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government (AU-AHSG), is one of several
decision-making bodies within the
African Union
The African Union (AU) is a continental union consisting of 55 member states located on the continent of Africa. The AU was announced in the Sirte Declaration in Sirte, Libya, on 9 September 1999, calling for the establishment of the Africa ...
. The other bodies are the
Pan-African Parliament
The Pan-African Parliament (PAP), also known as the African Parliament, is the legislative body of the African Union. It held its inaugural session in March 2004. The Parliament exercises oversight, and has advisory and consultative powers, ha ...
; the
Executive Council, consisting of foreign ministers of the AU members states; and the
African Union Commission
The Commission of the African Union acts as the executive/administrative branch or secretariat of the African Union (and is somewhat analogous to the European Commission). It consists of a number of Commissioners dealing with different areas of ...
. The
Chairperson
The chairperson, also chairman, chairwoman or chair, is the presiding officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office, who is typically elected or appointed by members of the grou ...
of the Assembly has few formal functions, the most important of which is to preside at the Pan-African Parliament during the election and swearing in of the President of the Pan-African Parliament.
History of the Assembly
The Assembly came into existence on 25 May 1963, as part of the ratification of
Organization of African Unity (OAU). Initially the Assembly consisted of 32 independent members, the heads of state of the African states that had achieved independence by 1963. Until 2001, the governing constitution of the Assembly was the
OAU Charter. The Assembly is now subject to the Union Act that created the
African Union
The African Union (AU) is a continental union consisting of 55 member states located on the continent of Africa. The AU was announced in the Sirte Declaration in Sirte, Libya, on 9 September 1999, calling for the establishment of the Africa ...
.
Functions of the Assembly
The Assembly has nine basic functions:
# Set policies of the Union.
# Decide on what action to take after consideration of reports and recommendations from the other organs of the Union.
# Consider membership requests into the Union.
# Create bodies for the Union.
# Monitor the implementation of policies and decisions of the Union as well ensure compliance by all Member States.
# Create a budget of the Union.
# Provide direction to the Executive Council on conflicts, war and other emergency situations and the restoration of peace.
# Select judges for and withdraw judges of the Court of Justice.
# Appoint the Chairman of the Commission, Commissioners of the Commission, all respective deputies and determine how long they will serve and what duties they will perform.
Decisions of the Assembly
The Assembly shall take its decisions by consensus or, failing which, by a two-thirds majority of the Member States of the Union. However, procedural matters, including the question of whether a matter is one of procedure or not, shall be decided by a simple majority.
Two-thirds of the total membership of the Union shall form a quorum at any meeting of the Assembly.
The Assembly may delegate any of its powers and functions to any organ of the Union.
Members of the Assembly
The AU Assembly of the Heads of State and Government consists of the 55 heads of state and government of the member countries. The Assembly meets once a year at the
AU Summit. The current Chairman of the Assembly is President
Cyril Ramaphosa
Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa (born 17 November 1952) is a South African businessman and politician who is currently serving as the fifth democratically elected president of South Africa. Formerly an anti-apartheid activist, trade union leader, and ...
of
South Africa.
The current members of the AU-AHSG are:
See also
*
European Council, the European Union equivalent.
External links
Assembly of the African UnionOfficial Site
{{African Union
Organs of the African Union