[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 166 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 166
Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Organization
of African Unity (OAU) and commending its successor, the African Union.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 10, 2013
Mr. Coons (for himself and Mr. Flake) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
June 25, 2013
Reported by Mr. Menendez, without amendment
June 26, 2013
Considered and agreed to
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Organization
of African Unity (OAU) and commending its successor, the African Union.
Whereas, on May 25, 1963, 32 newly independent African countries signed the
Charter of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) to promote unity,
solidarity, and political and economic cooperation among themselves, and
to defend member states' sovereignty, territorial integrity, and
independence;
Whereas upon its inception, the OAU embraced the principles of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, including freedom of association, free
expression, and political participation;
Whereas such efforts to encourage African unity, advance human rights, and
promote economic development on the continent were undermined by
regional conflicts, military coups, and civil wars, as well as large
foreign debts, increasing trade imbalances, food insecurity, and weak
institutions;
Whereas a decision declaring the establishment of the African Union (AU) as a
successor organization to the OAU to promote democratic principles and
institutions, encourage economic growth, and develop new tools for the
collective promotion of regional stability was adopted in Sirte, Libya,
on March 1, 2001, and March 2, 2001;
Whereas the vision of the African Union is that of ``an integrated, prosperous
and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a
dynamic force in the global arena'';
Whereas the African Union expresses commitment to the essential values of
transparency and accountability and promotes democratic processes across
the continent of Africa;
Whereas the African Union departed from the OAU's abiding doctrine of
nonintervention in the internal affairs of member states in favor of a
new policy establishing the right of the AU to intervene in a member
state under grave circumstances, including with respect to war crimes,
genocide, and crimes against humanity;
Whereas the African Union continues to build more robust African regional
institutions in order to address the myriad challenges facing the
continent, and has established an African peace and security
architecture, the New Partnership for Africa's Development, a strategic
framework for regional socioeconomic development, the Comprehensive
Africa Agriculture Development Program, and the African Peer Review
Mechanism, which seeks to help advance good governance, among other
institutions;
Whereas the African Union has contributed to regional peace and security by
mobilizing peacekeeping or intervention forces to protect civilians or
support political mediation missions and peace-building processes in
Burundi, Comoros, Sudan, Somalia, and Mali;
Whereas efforts to end conflicts on the continent of Africa, which continue to
destabilize states, undermine democracy, stifle economic growth and
investment, and rob young Africans of the opportunity for an education
and a better life, are a key United States objective;
Whereas it is critical to the interests of the United States that the African
Union be capable of effectively addressing current conflicts and
preventing future ones, advancing economic growth and broad-based and
sustainable economic development, and consolidating democracy and good
governance;
Whereas the United States Government demonstrated its strong commitment to
working closely with the AU by establishing a Mission to the African
Union in 2006;
Whereas, on August 3, 2010, the United States and the African Union signed a
$5,800,000 multi-year assistance agreement to achieve common policy
objectives;
Whereas, on June 14, 2012, President Barack Obama announced a United States
Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa, which calls on the United States to
deepen its partnership with African countries and regional organizations
by supporting efforts to advance accountable, democratic governance and
adherence to human rights norms and the rule of law, particularly by
supporting the African Union African Charter on Democracy, Elections,
and Governance and other multilateral standards;
Whereas key goals also supported by the African Union include fostering peace
and security, spurring economic growth, trade, and investment, and
promoting opportunity and development;
Whereas, on February 1, 2013, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between
the United States and the African Union to cement cooperation on peace
and security, democracy and governance, economic growth, trade, and
investment, and promotion of opportunity and development;
Whereas the African Union serves as a preeminent dialogue and policy-making
forum for leaders in Africa seeking to advance a wide range of regional
political, security, social, and economic objectives, including sub-
regional integration, and is a key interlocutor for and representative
of the people of Africa in international political and policy forums,
including the United Nations; and
Whereas close relations between the United States and the African Union mutually
benefit the people of the United States and Africa and the political,
security, economic, and cultural relations that link them: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) extends warm congratulations to the former member
states of the Organization of African Unity on the 50th year
anniversary of its founding, in particular its original 32
member states;
(2) commends member states of the African Union for their
strong and determined joint efforts to promote democratic
societies, sustainable development, and sound economic
practices, and peace, security, and stability on the continent;
(3) urges the President to continue to strongly support
efforts to advance and strengthen United States-African Union
cooperation, including through United States programs to help
build the capacities of the African Union;
(4) encourages the President to expedite and expand United
States efforts to achieve the goals and objectives of his
United States Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa; and
(5) emphasizes the rule of law, good governance, respect
for human rights, open markets, and broad-based and sustainable
economic growth and development as key pillars for long-term
stability and security in Africa and United States engagement
with the continent.
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