Background to AU Audit

In the recently concluded African Union Summit in Accra, it was agreed that an Audit Review of the African Union was needed. It was argued that while “all member states accept the United States of Africa as a common and a desirable goal, the Executive Council agreed on the need for a pragmatic and progressive approach and recommended an audit review of the state of the Union in order to identify the areas in which significant improvement have to be made in order to accelerate the African integration process.”

The review will be presented as a policy document for discussion and adoption at the next Heads of Summit in Addis Ababa, January 2008. The terms of reference seek to review the progress of the AU and specialised agencies from 2001 to date and propose ways of accelerating the integration process. Specifically, the twelve objectives cover an analysis of the international, continental and national political and economic trends affecting integration and an assessment of the contribution of civil society and African population to the Union. The Review will include recommendations on how to strengthen the Commission and member-states capacities to deliver on agreed Decisions, integrate NEPAD within the AU, apply sanctions on members who do not adhere to agreed Union policies and Decisions, harmonise the RECs within the Union, establish Financial Institutions and new funding options as well practical proposals on the nature of programmes, initiatives, policies and decisions that will be required to facilitate the achievement of the desired goals.

The audit is being steered by panel of thirteen eminent persons namely Prof Adedeji Adebayo (ECA former Executive) – Chair (Nigeria), Dr Fatima Zohra Karadjaa- Algeria, Dr Frene Ginwala -RSA, Amb. Vijay Makhan-Mauritius, Mr Akere Tabeng Muna-Cameroon, Dr Makha Dado Sarr-Senegal, Prof Abdala Bujra-Kenya, Mr Farhat Bengdara- Libya, Mme Julienne Ondziel-Gilenga –Congo, Hon Netumbo Nandi-Ndaiwa-Namibia, Amb. Nana Abendenga-Ghana, Hakim Ben Hamuda-ECA and Prof Adebayo Olukoshi-CODESTRIA.

The process will be conducted over a period of four (4) calendar months beginning from 1st September 2007. A combination of desk research, field study through interviews, focus group discussions and survey research will be used in visiting various AU organs, representative Member States. Documents will be studied from the African Union Commission, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the African Development Bank (AfDB), UNECA and non-state actors including civil society organisations and agencies.

The Panel is aware that a sufficient body of Summit decisions and research exists as far back as the Abuja Declaration of 1991 on integration, NEPAD, funding, strengthening the Commission etc. What is needed is not another review, but a carefully constructed set of dialogues between dissenting states and with their citizens on a collective vision with an acceptable focus, level and pace of integration.

Key points in the Panel’s schedule
20-26 October Panel holds meetings with key stakeholders, Addis
5-9 November Third Meeting of the Panel, Addis
8-11 December Fourth Meeting to adoption of report by Panel
10 December Panel distributes report to stakeholders for comments
5-6 January Final meeting of the Panel to integrate comments received, Addis

EX.CL_328_(X)_Annex_4_AUDIT_REV.pdf

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