Overview African Union

the african union s headquarters complex in addis ababa.

the main administrative capital of african union in addis ababa, ethiopia, african union commission headquartered. new headquarters complex, au conference center , office complex (aucc), inaugurated on 28 january 2012, during 18th au summit. complex built china state construction engineering corporation gift chinese government, , accommodates, among other facilities, 2,500-seat plenary hall , 20-story office tower. tower 99.9 meters high signify date 9 september 1999, when organization of african unity voted become african union.

other au structures hosted different member states:

the african commission on human , peoples rights based in banjul, gambia; and
the new partnership africa s development (nepad) , aprm secretariats , pan-african parliament in midrand, south africa.

the au covers entire continent except several territories held spain (canary islands, plazas de soberanía), france (mayotte, réunion, scattered islands in indian ocean), portugal (madeira, savage islands) , united kingdom (saint helena, ascension , tristan da cunha).

the au s first military intervention in member state may 2003 deployment of peacekeeping force of soldiers south africa, ethiopia, , mozambique burundi oversee implementation of various agreements. au troops deployed in sudan peacekeeping during darfur conflict, before mission handed on united nations on 1 january 2008 unamid. au has sent peacekeeping mission somalia, of peacekeeping troops uganda , burundi.

the au has adopted number of important new documents establishing norms @ continental level, supplement in force when created. these include african union convention on preventing , combating corruption (2003), african charter on democracy, elections , governance (2007), new partnership africa s development (nepad) , associated declaration on democracy, political, economic , corporate governance.

treaties