Impact of legal framework on integration: a case study of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the African Union (AU)

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to examine the effects of legal framework of the OAU on integration of African states and people. Secondly, the project also set out to determine whether with the enactment of the constitutive Act of the African Union with its new legal framework, African states and peoples would now achieve integration.

By far, the major inputs to this study were secondary data in the form of books, magazines, journals and commentaries. Whereas primary data in the fonn of interviews would have been most helpful, it was not possible to obtain any such interviews with the relevant persons, particularly those in Government who' kept ignoring appointments made and were also outside the country on official duties for long periods oftime. It was noted that the country has a new Government which is still fluid and unstable owing to the many changes that are taking place in national institutions on each day. Even questionnaires supplied largely remained unattended to.

However, the study managed to shed light on and prove that weak and or inadequate legal structures in the OAU Charter negatively contributed to the low level of integration in Africa. It was also possible to predict that due to the development of a new legal framework under the African Union, Afiica is likely to experience closer co-operation and integration .

. This being among the pioneer studies on the African Union (owing to the relative . newness of the Union), it is hoped that the criticisms leveled shall be considered by African people, leaders and policy makers in order to accelerate the process of integration so that Africa may firmly hold its position among the respected people of the world.