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New African Union to Replace OAU: Salim
Secretary-General Salim Ahmed Salim of the Organization of African Unity said Friday that the OAU will be transformed into a higher form of union on May 26 when the constitutive act of the African Union enters into force.
"In terms of political and legal reality, as from tomorrow, we will have the African Union," Salim told a press conference at OAU headquarters here on May 25 to mark the 38th anniversary of the pan-African body.
"The establishment of the union is a major development to bring about greater unity, solidarity and cooperation among the 53 member states for the political and economic integration of the continent,'' he added.
The treaty creating the union, the brainchild of Libyan leader Muammar Ghaddafi, needed the ratification of 36 OAU member states to take effect. A month ago, Nigeria became the 36th country to ratify the treaty.
However, Salim said that the complete transition from the OAU to the African Union will take at least a year and the details of the transition will be discussed at the next OAU summit in Lusaka, Zambia from July 9 to 11.
Salim said that he will continue acting as secretary general until a full-time executive commission is set up.
The pan-African body was set up in 1963 at the height of the continent's unshackling from colonialism.
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