Editing Organisation of African Unity (section)

==Aims==
{{more citations needed section|date=May 2013}}
The OAU had the following primary aims:
[[File:Selassie_and_Nasser,_1963.jpg|thumb|Emperor of [[Ethiopia]] [[Haile Selassie]] with President of [[Egypt]] [[Gamal Abdel Nasser]] in [[Addis Ababa]] for the Organisation of African Unity summit, 1963]]
* To co-ordinate and intensify the co-operation of [[Africa]]n states in order to achieve a better life for the people of Africa.<ref name="dfa.gov.za"/>
* To defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of African states.
* The OAU was also dedicated to the eradication of all forms of [[colonialism]] and white minority rule as, when it was established, there were several states that had not yet won their independence or were white minority-ruled. [[South Africa]] and [[Angola]] were two such countries. The OAU proposed two ways of ridding the continent of colonialism and white minority rule. First, it would defend the interests of independent countries and help to pursue the independence those of still-colonised ones. Secondly, it would remain neutral in terms of world affairs, preventing its members from being controlled once more by outside powers.

A Liberation Committee was established to aid independence movements and look after the interests of already-independent states. The OAU also aimed to stay neutral in terms of global politics, which would prevent them from being controlled once more by outside forces – an especial danger with the Cold War.

{{AU History}}

The OAU had other aims, too:

* Ensure that all Africans enjoyed [[human rights]].
* Raise the [[living standards]] of all Africans.
* Settle arguments and disputes between members – not through fighting but rather peaceful and diplomatic negotiation.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Elias|first=T. O.|date=1965|title=The Charter of the Organization of African Unity|journal=The American Journal of International Law|volume=59|issue=2|pages=243–267|doi=10.2307/2196967|issn=0002-9300|jstor=2196967|s2cid=146867168}}</ref>

Soon after achieving independence, a number of African states expressed a growing desire for more unity within the continent. Not everyone was agreed on how this unity could be achieved, however, and two opinionated groups emerged in this respect:

* [[Casablanca Group|The Casablanca bloc]], led by [[Kwame Nkrumah]] of [[Ghana]], wanted a [[federation]] of all African countries. Aside from Ghana, it comprised also [[Algeria]], [[Guinea]], [[Morocco]], [[Egypt]], [[Mali]] and [[Libya]]. Founded in 1961, its members were described as "progressive states".
* [[Monrovia Group|The Monrovian bloc]], led by [[Léopold Sédar Senghor|Senghor]] of [[Senegal]], felt that unity should be achieved gradually, through economic cooperation. It did not support the notion of a political federation. Its other members were [[Nigeria]], [[Liberia]], [[Ethiopia]], and most of the former French colonies.

Some of the initial discussions took place at [[Sanniquellie]], Liberia. The dispute was eventually resolved when [[Ethiopia]]n emperor [[Haile Selassie I]] invited the two groups to [[Addis Ababa]], where the OAU and its headquarters were subsequently established. The Charter of the Organisation was signed by 32 independent African states.

At the time of the OAU's disbanding, 53 out of the 54 African states were members; [[Morocco]] left on 12 November 1984 following the admission of the [[Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic]] as the government of [[Western Sahara]] in 1982.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.blackpast.org/global-african-history/organization-african-unity-1963-2002/|title = Organization of African Unity (1963–2002) |first=Alys|last=Beverton|website=blackpast.org|date = 10 May 2009}}</ref>