The creation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1963 which was later transformed into the African Union (AU) in 2002 has enabled the continent to maintain a sustained demographic growth, an increase in the level of technology and changes in the socio-economic domains. The African Union Commission thus met to rethink and review its operational models in order to meet the new challenges.
Going by the words of AU’s Director of Administration and Human Resources Management, Amine Idriss Adoum, the current structure doesn’t match the new realities, reason why the Organisation has to start by reviewing the commission’s structure, then the organs after which ways to promote integration and relationships with the regional economic communities like CEMAC, ECOWAS and others will be evaluated.
To make the organisation more dynamic, effective and efficient, flexible, modern and realistic, the Commission designed and member States approved an Agenda 2063 which is currently working on a 10-year implementation plan.
To Amine Idriss, the challenges of Agenda 2063 and the 10-year implementation plan require new sets of organisational alignment and mindsets that will contribute to this realisation, hence the five-day brainstorming seminar that kicked off in Douala, on March 23 to review its organisation and structure.
Opening the conclave, the Secretary General at the Ministry of External Relations, Felix Mbayu, told participants representing the 54 member States that the results of the Douala meeting are awaited by member States who will like to see the central organ of the organisation contribute more efficiently and effectively towards the integration of efforts and continent development.
He enjoined them to reactivate the pan-African spirit spearheaded by Kwame Nkrumah during OAU’s creation in 1963 and ameliorate the functioning of AU by proposing practical solutions for the betterment of the continent.
