AFRICAN UNION (AU)

https://au.int/
PRESIDENTS:

Nombre Correo electrónico

sofilopez210204@gmail.com
Sofia López Hermosa

Alejandra Diaz: yualejandradiaz@gmail.com

1. WELCOME:

Greetings, delegates,
As presidents of the African Union we are glad to welcome you to the ninth edition of SIMONU
Bogota and the Committee. It is a pleasure to be part of this enriching process where we can
acquire knowledge from each other.

We hope that this experience will become part of you, and contribute to make changes in the
world, starting from our own context. Thereby, contributing in the best way to the resolution
of problems via alternatives that provide assistance to diverse situations within the context and
jurisdiction of the African Union.

Finally, we invite you to do your best in and out of the debate with your research and through
the debate, and of course the dialogue. We call upon you to always give solutions and to be
part of the change that you want to see in the world.

2. THEME

2.1.THEMATIC LINE: The thematic line for the African Union committee is based
mainly on the reduction of inequalities and inclusion of new ways of relating to one
another. In other words, finding the union of different points of view that could provide
a reduction of the inequalities of the 55 nations that are part of the African Union.
 2.2.THEME: The main theme that will be addressed through the committee and to which
different solutions are ought to be obtained is: the Conflict and reduction of the use of
weapons in member countries. This will be done trying to involve the most complicated
situation of the African Union as a community, which is: the social and economic
problems existing in the African countries.

2.3.TOPIC: As a commission we hope to see from delegates different types of proposals

and programs that come from their own ideas and the different knowledge that they
have acquired from the different views, always contributing with solutions that can be
put in practice. Taking into account that the theme is about reducing the conflicts that
arise among young people, this issue will be discussed on the table in the meeting that
we are going to have inside the commision.
3. FOCUS:
The main focus of our commission is guiding the debate towards the selected topic:
• The commission of the African Union has the intention of intervening in situations that
affect social, economic and political aspects of the 55 member states. As a matter of
fact, these countries have common interests, which include guaranteeing protection and
safeguarding the territory, as well as, promoting the due respect to rights of the African
population and their development.
• The organization by which the African Union has dependency is the UNHCR. On the
other hand, the general assembly of the ONU has the intention of providing them
assistance, to safeguard their rights and duties. As forced displacement is one of the
biggest problems that the African Union has, this topic will be tackled in the
commission.
4. METHODOLOGY ORIENTATIONS:
Within the commission, the corresponding thematic line that will be addressed is the
reduction of inequality and inclusion, dealing primarily with the abuses to which those who are
part of the African union have been subjected to. Therefore, we will tackle issues such as:
migration, violence and the lack of resources necessary for a quality life in these nations. We
will provide adequate context of the real situation that is currently facing the African Union.
5. ABOUT THE COMMISSION:
 The African Union (AU) is one of UNHCR’s most important partners in leading global
efforts to end the forced displacements that cause so much suffering to millions of people.
Forced displacement is a major challenge for Africa, the most affected continent with more
than a third (approximately 20 million people) of the world's refugees and internally displaced
persons (Nuclear Threat Initiative, 2019).
The African Union was founded in May 2001, and based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It has 55
Member States working together to address major political, social and economic challenges, in
particular: conflict prevention and resolution as well as the promotion of pan-African
development and integration within the framework of its ambitious Agenda 2063. The AU's
motto is "A prosperous, peaceful and integrated Africa" (Nuclear Threat Initiative, 2019).
Forced displacement has always been one of the main issues on the agenda of the AU and
the Organization of African Unity (OAU), which preceded it. Under his supervision, landmark
treaties on refugees and internal displacement have been adopted. They have helped millions
of people in Africa and beyond (Nuclear Threat Initiative, 2019).
The African union has a lot of support globally in terms of companies and institutions that
are part of the UN, but without a doubt its main ally is UNHCR, which is the UN agency for
refugees. It guarantees the rights and duties of those citizens who have been forcibly displaced,
with the purpose that the rate of population at a global level that goes through this unfortunate
situation be lower (African Union, 2017).
The issues dealt on the commission, as we mentioned above, are related to the approach of
reducing inequality and fostering inclusion for those who are part of the nations of the African
Union. Likewise, we will deal with subtopics such as violence, displacement, mistreatment, the
cup of poverty and inequality. However, our main intention is for you, as delegates, to propose
possible solutions that can deal with these difficulties from a peaceful and respectful framework
(African Union, 2017).
5.1.COMMISSION THEME:
The African Union was founded in May 2001, and its headquarter is located in Addis Abeba,
Ethiopia. At the moment it has 55 member states. These countries work together to tackle the
main political, social and economic problems that the African Union faces, particularly,
conflict prevention and conflict resolution. Also, it intends to foster a Pan-African integration
and development through the agenda 2063. The African Union motto is “A prosperous,
peaceable and integrated Africa'', which reaffirms its main goal. The African Union is one of
the most important associates of the UNHCR (UNHCR, 2019).
 THINGS THAT DELEGATES COULD MAKE:

o Can make allies

o Can apply sanctions
o Can make distributions of goods as a way to help
o Can make decisions over the goods
o Can send troops of help
o Can change the resolution of a rule
o Can take power over countries with difficulties
o Can invest

THINGS THAT DELEGATES COULD NOT MAKE DURING THE

SECTIONS:

o Could not begin a war

o Could not intervene or dispute the water resources
o Could not stop prioritizing children and elderly
o Could not take hold of its position
o Could not affect the GDP of its country
o Could not affect other countries with the use of weapons or other sharp objects
6. KEY IMPORTANT CONCEPTS:
➢ GDP: Gross domestic product (GDP) is the standard measure of the value added
created through the production of goods and services in a country during a certain
period. As such, it also measures the income earned from that production, or the total
amount spent on final goods and services (less imports) (OECD, 2021).
➢ Migration: The movement of a person or a group of persons, either across an
international border, or within a State. It is a population movement, encompassing any
kind of movement of people, whatever its length, composition and causes; it includes
migration of refugees, displaced persons, economic migrants, and persons moving for
other purposes, including family reunification (IOM, 2011).
➢ Immigration: A process by which non-nationals move into a country for the purpose
of settlement (IOM, 2011).
➢ National Integration: means national unity. It is unity in diversity. It means unifying
all the forces in the country so as to give the idea of one nation. National Integration
 involves:1) The sentiments of nationalism, 2) The feeling of oneness, 3) Social,
political, economic, linguistic and cultural unity, 4) Common ideas of life and common
code of behavior, and, 5) The ability to subordinate sectarian and parochial loyalties to
loyalty of the nation (India Study Channel, 2010).
➢ Forced Displacement: A forced removal of a person from his or her home or country,
often due to armed conflict or natural disasters (IOM, 2011).
➢ Peace: is when people are able to resolve their conflicts without violence and can work
together to improve the quality of their lives (International alert, 2021).
➢ Cultural Heritage: is an expression of the ways of living developed by a community
and passed on from generation to generation, including customs, practices, places,
objects, artistic expressions and values. Cultural Heritage is often expressed as either
Intangible or Tangible Cultural Heritage. As part of human activity Cultural Heritage
produces tangible representations of the value systems, beliefs, traditions and lifestyles.
As an essential part of culture as a whole, Cultural Heritage, contains these visible and
tangible traces form antiquity to the recent past (Culture in Development, 2002).
➢ Aid: Aid (also known as Overseas Development Assistance or ODA) is the assistance
governments, nongovernment organisations (e.g. World Vision Australia), businesses,
and individuals of one country give to the people of another country to help reduce
poverty and achieve sustainable development (World Vision Australia, 2015).
➢ Equity: The term “equity” refers to fairness and justice and is distinguished from
equality: Whereas equality means providing the same to all, equity means recognizing
that we do not all start from the same place and must acknowledge and make
adjustments to imbalances. The process is ongoing, requiring us to identify and
overcome intentional and unintentional barriers arising from bias or systemic structures
(National Association of Colleges and Employers, 2021).
➢ Equality: Equality is the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and
opportunities (World Food Programme, 2020).
➢ Inequality: Inequality refers to the phenomenon of unequal and/or unjust distribution
of resources and opportunities among members of a given society (Science Direct,
2020).
7. HISTORICAL CONTEXT:
In May 1963, 32 Heads of independent African States met in Addis Ababa Ethiopia to sign
the Charter creating Africa’s first post-independence continental institution, The Organization
of African Unity (OAU). The OAU was the manifestation of the pan-African vision for an
Africa that was united, free and in control of its own destiny and this was solemnized in the
OAU Charter in which the founding fathers recognized that freedom, equality, justice and
dignity were essential objectives for the achievement of the legitimate aspirations of the
African peoples and that there was a need to promote understanding among Africa’s peoples
and foster cooperation among African states in response to the aspirations of Africans for
brother-hood and solidarity, in a larger unity transcending ethnic and national Differences. The
guiding philosophy was that of Pan-Africanism which centered on African socialism and
promoted African unity, the communal characteristic and practices of African communities,
and a drive to embrace Africa’s culture and common heritage (African Union, 2021)

The main objectives of the OAU were to rid the continent of the remaining vestiges of
colonization and apartheid; to promote unity and solidarity amongst African States; to
coordinate and intensify cooperation for development; to safeguard the sovereignty and
territorial integrity of Member States and to promote international cooperation. The OAU
Charter spelled out the purpose of the Organization namely:

● To promote the unity and solidarity of the African States;

● To coordinate and intensify their cooperation and efforts to achieve a better life for the
peoples of Africa;
● To defend their sovereignty, their territorial integrity and independence;
● To eradicate all forms of colonialism from Africa; and
● To promote international cooperation, having due regard to the Charter of the United
Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Through the OAU Coordinating Committee for the Liberation of Africa, the Continent
worked and spoke as one with undivided determination in forging an international consensus
in support of the liberation struggle and the fight against apartheid. The OAU had provided an
effective forum that enabled all Member States to adopt coordinated positions on matters of
common concern to the continent in international fora and defend the interests of Africa
effectively (African Union, 2021).
The situations that have happened previously and that have led Africa to address its issues are
the bad decisions of the governments, and the lack of resources with which these 55 nations do
not have due to socio-democratic situations. This has broken all possibilities to consolidate
prosperous and equal nations as well as organization systems that provide the necessary help
for people and their circumstances.
This has been happening with the 55 States that are part of the Union: Algeria, Angola,
Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic,
Chad, Comoros, Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial
Guinea, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau. Kenya, the
Kingdom of Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius,
Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Saharawi Arab Democratic
Republic, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa,
South Sudan, Sudan, Kingdom of Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and
Zimbabwe.
Regarding that most of the African countries face very precarious situations (no enough
resources, no basic sanitation, no potable water, etc.), the most affected ones are those which
have less support from foreign countries. In the following graphic you will find an explanation
of all the conflicts that Africa has gone through:
Graph 1.
Source: https://elpais.com/elpais/2020/04/23/planeta_futuro/1587638775_891949.html
An important part to have clear is the “blue helmets”

Graph 2.
Source: Miguel Mulas/EFE
Having a clear panorama about the situation and all the concepts about this war:
✓ TIMELINE ABOUT THE AFRICAN WAR:
Africa because of its immense mineral richness has been -and still is- a key-part in the
development of other countries. However, the institution’s weakness not only has let the
sacking of all these resources but has promoted two civil wars in the last 25 years (one of them
is called “great African war” (1998)).
✓ 1885 CONGO
Berlin’s conference
the Belgium's king Leopoldo II, privately made an union with the Congo
✓ 1908 CONGO BELGA
Belga colony
has to quit in front of the presidents about the bad treatment and abuse and sell him to the
country.
✓ 1960 REP. CONGO
Independence
The belgas wanted to still influence in the country directed democratically by Lumbumba
causing internal separations.
✓ 1965 ZAIRE
Mobutu arrives at power.
Lumumba is killed by Mobutu’s collusion and gets access to the power. For decades get the
support of countries like Belgium and EE.UU.
✓ 1996 R.D CONGO
Kabila Mutiny
Rwanda and Uganda helped him to overthrow Mobutu. He supported genocidal militia Hutus
Ruandesas that escaped to Zaire when they were rejected from the government.
✓ 1998
Great African War
Attack between Tutsis and Hutus caused the conflict that involved 8 countries:
● RDC- Democratic Republic Congo
● Angola
● Namibia
● Zimbabue
● Chad
 ● Ruanda
● Uganda
● Burundi
✓ PRESENT
The Kivu war is a consequence from the civil war in 1998 where there were mixed ethnic
conflicts and mineral resources control.

Graph 3.
Source: https://elpais.com/elpais/2020/04/23/planeta_futuro/1587638775_891949.html
Graph 4.
Source: https://elpais.com/elpais/2020/04/23/planeta_futuro/1587638775_891949.html
8. RESEARCH GUIDING QUESTIONS:
➢ How can you repair the victims of all the wars in your country?
➢ What has your country done to help the victims?
➢ Does your country accept the management of arm free?
➢ What kind of help has your country received from another country?
➢ It is necessary to implement strategies of reducing inequality, yes? Not? why?
➢ Which mechanisms of defense will be used by your nation as part of this process?
➢ What is going to be the contribution of your country in this situation?
➢ What are the main factors that led this situation to happen?
➢ What are the main reasons that your country has to be involved in this Union?
9. BIBLIOGRAPHY
The sources used to elaborate this commission guide were:
NTI: African Union (AU) | Treaties & Regimes | NTI
AFRICAN UNION: Africa’s Women’s Day | African Union (au.int)
ACNUR: ACNUR - La Unión Africana
-EL PAIS: https://elpais.com/elpais/2020/04/23/planeta_futuro/1587638775_891949.htm
UN: ebola (un.org)
OECD: https://data.oecd.org/gdp/gross-domestic-product-gdp.htm
IOM: https://www.corteidh.or.cr/sitios/observaciones/11/anexo5.pdf
INDIA STUDY CHANNEL: https://www.indiastudychannel.com/resources/122094-
Concept-of-National-Integration-And-Obstacles-To-National-Integration.aspx
-INTERNATIONAL ALERT: https://www.international-alert.org/what-we-do/what-is-
peace
CULTURE IN DEVELOPMENT:
http://www.cultureindevelopment.nl/cultural_heritage/what_is_cultural_heritage
WORLD VISION AUSTRALIA: https://www.worldvision.com.au/docs/default-
source/school-resources/what-are-the-different-types-of-aid-(updated).pdf?sfvrsn=0
WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME: https://www.wfp.org/stories/what-does-equality-mean-
me
SCIENCE DIRECT: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/inequality
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND EMPLOYERS:
https://www.naceweb.org/about-us/equity-definition/