African Union marks its fiftieth anniversary

The first conference brought African and diaspora intellectuals together around cultural memory, development and renewed transatlantic connection. Its discussions treated the diaspora as a political...

The AU Executive Council adopted a definition of the diaspora as a constituent part of the African family and called for diaspora participation in Union building. The policy was an institutional...

The AU adopted a charter linking popular participation, human rights and democratic governance to continental unity. It set regional standards against unconstitutional changes of government, though...

The AU adopted the first continental treaty focused on internally displaced people. It recognized state responsibility and the effects of conflict, disasters and development projects, connecting...

The AU and South African government hosted the first Global African Diaspora Summit in Sandton. Delegates adopted a declaration on partnership and development, making diaspora engagement a formal...

The UN General Assembly proclaimed 2015–2024 the International Decade for People of African Descent, recognizing justice, development and cultural recognition as linked concerns. The resolution...

The AU Assembly adopted a revised protocol envisioning the Parliament as a legislative organ and a platform for African peoples and grassroots organizations. The change expressed a more...

The AU adopts the Agenda 2063 framework, a long-term program for integration, development and an African-led future. Its Pan-African language is ambitious; implementation depends on public...

The AU launched its passport at the Kigali summit as a symbol and instrument of continental free movement. Initial issuance was limited to heads of state and diplomats; the announcement expressed...

The AU Assembly adopted a protocol on free movement, residence and establishment, tying mobility to integration and pan-African citizenship. Adoption was a legal commitment, not implementation; the...