Headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the AU will mark the anniversary on September 9, 2026.
The commemoration traces the AU’s establishment to the Sirte Declaration, signed by African leaders in Libya on September 9, 1999. The declaration laid the foundation for replacing the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) with a new continental body.
The Lomé Summit adopted the AU Constitutive Act in 2000, while the Lusaka Summit established an implementation pathway in 2001. The AU was officially launched during the Durban Summit in South Africa in 2002.
The OAU had focused primarily on decolonisation and ending apartheid. The creation of the AU shifted greater attention towards cooperation, economic development and integration among African countries.
The continental organisation adopted a Pan-African vision of an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa driven by African citizens while representing a force in international affairs.
The AU plays a central role in peacekeeping, conflict resolution, economic cooperation, public health, education, gender equality and human rights.
Economic integration has advanced through the African Continental Free Trade Area, launched in 2021 to increase intra-African trade, investment and economic growth while reducing reliance on external markets.
The AU said Agenda 2063 provides a wider development framework for building a prosperous and integrated continent with greater influence in international negotiations.
The union said that a more coordinated African position could strengthen the continent’s voice within the United Nations, Group of Twenty, European Union and other international institutions.
Continental unity also supports cooperation on climate change, desertification, biodiversity loss and public health, the AU said. The organisation said that the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the importance of coordinated African responses to shared health emergencies.
Agenda 2063’s sixth aspiration promotes people-driven development built around the potential of African women and young people while protecting children.
The AU said that the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights provide further mechanisms for addressing violations and promoting accountability among AU Member States.
The anniversary recognises Africa’s continuing effort to overcome colonial fragmentation, the AU said, adding that it strengthens a shared identity and builds the political and economic cooperation required for sustainable development.
–AU/ChannelAfrica–
