African Union Commission

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African Union Commission
Flag of the African Union.svg
Emblem of the African Union
Secretary Pompeo Meets with AUC Chairperson Mahamat (49557210111).jpg
African Union Conference Center and Office Complex
Agency overview
Formed2002
Preceding agency
  • Organization of African Unity (OAU) Secretariat
Jurisdiction Africa
Headquarters Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
EmployeesApproximately 1,500
Annual budget$647.3 million (2024)
Agency executive
Parent department African Union
Website au.int/en/commission OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

The African Union Commission (AUC) acts as the executive/administrative branch or secretariat of the African Union. It is headed by a chairperson and consists of a number of Commissioners dealing with different areas of policy.

Contents

The African Union Headquarters are in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It should be distinguished from the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, (based in Banjul, Gambia), which is a separate body that reports to the African Union.

History

On September 13, 2005 an agreement was reached by the Commission and France whereby France would donate €5 million for the furtherance of African Union activities. Some of the initiatives this money will go to are an African Communication Policy and an African Common Defence Force. The signatory on behalf of the Commission was Bernard Zoba.

The African Union Commission became a part of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2012. [1] FOCAC is the main multi-lateral coordination mechanism between the African countries and China. [2] Since joining FOCAC, the African Union Commission has increasingly played a coordinating role, although each African country in FOCAC continues to represent itself individually. [1]

Departments

The commission is divided into departments known that can be likened to ministries. A commissioner's portfolio can be supported by numerous sub departments; they prepare proposals for them and if approved by a majority of commissioners proposals go forward to the Parliament and Council for consideration.

Agencies

The agencies of the African Union (AU) are specialized institutions established to implement the AU's objectives of promoting unity, peace, and sustainable development across Africa.

Key members

Finances

The African Union Commission (AUC) operates on a budget funded through contributions from its member states as well as international partners. [3] The budget supports the Commission's administrative functions, peacekeeping operations, development programs, and other initiatives aligned with the African Union's strategic objectives. [4]

Annual Budget

Below is a summary of the AUC's annual budgets over recent years:

The budget reflects incremental increases to support expanded operations, including initiatives in peace and security, socio-economic development, and institutional capacity building.

Member State Contributions

Member states contribute to the AUC's budget based on an assessed contribution formula that considers factors such as the size of their economies. Contributions are categorized into three tiers:

  1. Tier 1: Major contributors, including countries such as Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, and Algeria, contribute a significant share of the budget.
  2. Tier 2: Middle-income countries contribute a moderate share.
  3. Tier 3: Least Developed Countries (LDCs) contribute a smaller, more manageable share.

The African Union has also adopted a 0.2% levy on eligible imports to finance its budget independently and reduce reliance on external donors. [5] However, compliance with the levy varies across member states, affecting the overall contribution landscape.

References

  1. 1 2 Murphy, Dawn C. (2022). China's rise in the Global South : the Middle East, Africa, and Beijing's alternative world order. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press. p. 57. ISBN   978-1-5036-3060-4. OCLC   1249712936.
  2. ↑ Murphy, Dawn C. (2022). China's rise in the Global South : the Middle East, Africa, and Beijing's alternative world order. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press. p. 56. ISBN   978-1-5036-3060-4. OCLC   1249712936.
  3. ↑ "OPERATIONAL BUDGET | African Union". au.int. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  4. ↑ Iyatse, Geoff (July 7, 2023). "AU's troubled path to self-sustaining funding". Pan African Review. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  5. ↑ "AU financial independence: still a long way to go | PSC Report". ISS Africa. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
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