Madam Chair, guided by the Pan-Africanist philosophy, the African continent has, since independence from colonial rule, consistently pursued the twin objectives of unity on the one hand, and collective self- reliance in the field of economic and social development on the other. These twin objectives aimed at promoting socioeconomic development, protection from neocolonialism and reduction of its dependence from the countries of the North.
As African states finally became independent, they recognised the need to establish an organisation that would act as a vehicle for African unity, and this was realised in 1963 when the OAU was established. The founding fathers of the OAU envisioned a united Africa functioning under a union government with a common defence, common diplomacy, common currency, an African monetary zone, an African Central Bank and a common African citizenship.
The formation of the AU in 2000, replacing the OAU, was necessitated by, among other things, the new context marked by globalisation, the partial end of colonialism in Africa and the end of the Cold War.
The AU established Nepad, which was supported by the Constitutive Act, the objectives of which were inter alia, to achieve greater unity and solidarity between the African countries and the peoples of Africa; defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity and the independence of its member states and so on.
The AU Assembly, then mandated the AU Commission to pursue the projects of the United States of Africa by holding the All-Inclusive Continental Consultation Conference on 29 to 31 May this year in Addis Ababa, where participants, including civil society organisations, agreed that there was a need for the establishment of a union government as the political transitory arrangement towards the United States of Africa.
Many member states, with the exception of few, agreed to the project of the United States of Africa. Their fundamental motivation was that such an eventuality was going to effectively address the issues of underdevelopment, eradication of mass poverty, the promotion of democracy and the rule of law and the defence of their political independence and position in the world.
All participants agreed that that process would be a gradual, incremental and multilayered approach, bearing in mind that of course there are sensitive issues such as the African Bank and sovereignty which are very crucial, the removal of trade barriers, African armies and defence, judiciary systems, African security issues, common currency, common language, etc.
It was further realised that there can be no integration of the continent without strong regional economic communities which would serve as building blocks towards the realisation of that dream.
The biggest challenge is in aligning, synchronising and harmonising the integration efforts of member states, the RECs and the AU. Therefore, a roadmap for the attainment of deep continental integration and the establishment of union government should learn, first, from the difficulties experienced with the two previous roadmaps - the Lagos Plan of Action and the Abuja Treaty. Thank you very much, Chair. [Time expired.] [Applause.]