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From the Organisation of African Unity to the African Union From the Organisation of African Unity to the African Union: From a policy of non-interference to a policy of non-indifference? Mari Hushagen Langerud Masters thesis, Department of Archaeology, Conservation and History. Faculty of Humanities. UNIVERSITY OF OSLO 14.05.2016 Words: 34.500 Supervisor(s): Karin Dokken and Ingrid Lundestad. II From the Organisation of African Unity to the African Union: From a policy of non-interference to a policy of non-indifference? Mari Hushagen Langerud Masters thesis, Department of Archaeology, Conservation and History. Faculty of Humanities. UNIVERSITY OF OSLO 14.05.2016 Words: 34.500 Supervisor(s): Karin Dokken and Ingrid Lundestad. III © Mari Hushagen Langerud 2016 From the Organisation of African Unity to the African Union: From a policy of non-interference to a policy of non-indifference? Mari Hushagen Langerud http://www.duo.uio.no/ Trykk: Reprosentralen, Universitetet i Oslo IV V VI Abstract The subject for this thesis is the change from a policy of non-interference to non-indifference between the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), and its successor, the Africa Union (AU). The purpose of the thesis is to explore explanatory factors for the different approaches to respectively a non-interference policy, by the OAU, and a non-indifference policy by the AU. The term non-interference refers to the absence of foreign interference in national affairs, in this case where the OAU deliberately maintained a policy of not interfering with its members' internal affairs through interventionist actions. The term non-indifference hence refers to the approach of the AU, where the organisation on several occasions, with varied tools and approaches, have interfered in its members' internal affairs. The OAU stated early that one aim for the organisation was non-interference. The charter had descriptions and processes on mediation, condemnation and peaceful processes, but the policy was to stay out of the neighbour's internal affairs as much as possible. During its existence from 1963 to 2002, the organisation engaged in conflicts on just a few occasions. The AU has taken a different approach and has intervened to support constitutional political change, provide military interventions, and initiated several attempts to establish peace or end conflict through mediation and peace talks. In other words, an active role compared to what the OAU took. This change is interesting in itself, but so far, little research has been done on why the transition from one organisation to the other changed the policy from non-interference to non-indifference and why the change occurs. Relevant here has slo been to investigate the question of what time period this policy change takes place. This thesis intends to first see how the OAU was established as a result of the Pan- African movement, and how the organisation followed a policy of non-interference as a guideline for the relations between the member states. Further, it will examine how the transition towards a policy of non-indifference in the OAU developed before it was replaced by the AU in 2002, seen in light of emerging changes internationally, and why the policy change occurred. The thesis has been written based on mainly original documents from the organisations themselves and the United Nations, with the supplement of secondary literature when applicable. Some documents are retrieved from the AUC Library at the African Union's headquarter in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. VII VIII Acknowledgement Handing in this thesis marks the end of a five year long journey and several people deserves eternal gratitude, applause, and a decent amount of champagne. Firstly to my supervisors. Karin Dokken, for all your valuable feedback, good conversations, ideas, encouragement, extensive knowledge of Africa, and the open-door policy through the process. You are really one of a kind. The same gratitude I feel to my co-supervisor Ingrid Lundestad, who through valuable guidance managed to put my ideas into a context suitable for historians. To the Library and Archives Unit of the African Union, Addis Ababa, for valuable help during my stay, and maneuvering in decades of history. To my parents for being supportive even when you, surely, must have questioned the sanity of your offspring. For teaching me to enjoy books, what it means to work for something, what responsibility is, building my confidence, and all good conversations along the way. To my brother, for always questioning my sanity, for rarely agreeing with me, for always making me laugh, inspiring me to work harder and have more fun. To fellow Pecosians, for two well spent years of shared fun and anguish on the 9th floor. We made it, at last. To my friends. Those in Zimbabwe, who opened my eyes to Africa. For those at home being so patient, ignoring my mood swings over the last few months and for never giving up the social invitations. Ingrid for never losing faith, the shared paranoia, and for always telling me that I am smarter than I think. Thank you Mari and Sara for the best hugs and an open door in Hamar, and to Linn and Bente for never saying no to wine and dine. Espen, thank you for keeping up with me these two years with ups, downs and distance. I promise that I will keep quiet about Africa now. At least for a week. Lastly, I wish to dedicate this to my grandfather Lars. I miss you every day. Oslo, 14.05.16 IX X Content List of Abbreviations .............................................................................................................. 1 1.0 Introduction: ....................................................................................................................... 3 Problem formulation and limitations of the thesis: ................................................................ 5 Conceptual framework and actors .......................................................................................... 7 Literature .............................................................................................................................. 12 Primary sources and methods ............................................................................................... 15 Organisation of the thesis ..................................................................................................... 18 2.0 Organisation of African Unity and non-interference ................................................... 20 Pan-Africanism: The years prior to the OAU ...................................................................... 20 Establishing the OAU: Ideas, actors .................................................................................... 24 The Charter: Rights, obligations and solutions .................................................................... 31 OAU in the Cold War years: Non-interference .................................................................... 34 The first all-African Peace operation: Chad ......................................................................... 43 OAU: success in some fields? .............................................................................................. 48 Chapter summary: ................................................................................................................ 49 3.0 From an OAU policy of non-interference towards the African Union, and a policy of non-indifference ...................................................................................................................... 51 Gradual process of change: Internally changed perceptions on security ............................. 51 From conference to action: An agenda for peace, and establishing the OAU Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution .............................................................. 55 Changed perceptions on responsibility to protect, increased attention from the world? The cases of Somalia, Burundi and Rwanda ............................................................................... 60 Somalia ............................................................................................................................. 61 Burundi ............................................................................................................................. 62 Rwanda ............................................................................................................................. 64 Pressure from the international society and Structural Adjustment Programs: Incentives for action .................................................................................................................................... 66 Towards the African Union .................................................................................................. 69 The African Union and new institutions .............................................................................. 70 The African Union and non-indifference: cooperation ........................................................ 72 3.6 Chapter Summary ........................................................................................................... 75 4.0: Conclusion ....................................................................................................................... 78 XI Future research ..................................................................................................................... 83 5.0 Bibliography ....................................................................................................................
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