Africa Day commemorates the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was established on 25 May 1963 in Addis Ababa, in Ethiopia.
On that day, 30 leaders from African countries signed a founding charter with the hope that all African states should unite so that the welfare and wellbeing of their peoples could be assured.
The OAU is the predecessor of the African Union (AU), which aims to secure democracy and human rights on the continent and sustain Africa’s economies by ending intra-African conflict and creating a common market.
The AU’s membership is made up of nations and is designed along the lines of the European Union, an economic and political confederation of European nations.
At present, it has the power to promote African economic, social and political integration.
The AU was formed in 2002 with the objective to protect Africa’s security.
