[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 490 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 490

             Concerning the formation of the African Union.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 17, 2002

    Mr. Fattah (for himself, Mr. Payne, and Mr. Meeks of New York) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                       on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
             Concerning the formation of the African Union.

Whereas upon the conclusion of World War II, the United Nations Charter 
        committed all colonial powers to develop full self-governance and free 
        political institutions in the territories under their control;
Whereas in the late 1950's and early 1960's, colonial powers generally 
        recognized that African colonies would soon gain independence;
Whereas in 1963, newly independent African states signed the Charter of the 
        Organization of African Unity (OAU) to promote African solidarity and 
        intensify efforts to improve living standards;
Whereas such efforts to promote solidarity and stability on the continent were 
        undermined by regional conflicts, military coups, and civil war;
Whereas the OAU's efforts to promote stability and prosperity were further 
        stymied by a general policy of noninterference and respect for 
        territorial integrity in their relations with other member states;
Whereas sub-Saharan African countries face monumental debt and increasing trade 
        imbalances, accounting for only 2 percent of all world trade;
Whereas the per capita income of Africans has decreased while the global economy 
        expands;
Whereas the United States enacted several initiatives to improve United States 
        economic relations with sub-Saharan Africa, including the African Growth 
        and Opportunity Act, which offers trade and other economic benefits to 
        sub-Saharan countries that are committed to economic reform;
Whereas the African Union (AU) was created as a successor organization to the 
        OAU to further encourage economic growth and accelerated integration 
        into the global economy;
Whereas South African President Thabo Mbeki was selected as chairman of the 
        newly formed AU to lead reform efforts;
Whereas the AU will abandon the OAU's policy of non-intervention of internal 
        affairs of member states in favor of a new policy of intervention in 
        cases of genocide, war crimes, or gross violations of human rights;
Whereas the AU will create peacekeeping forces, a security council, and a 
        legislature to enforce this new policy;
Whereas one of the centerpieces of AU will be the implementation of the New 
        Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), which proposes to obtain 
        increased investment and trade opportunities from the West with a 
        promise from African nations to commit to good governance, democracy, 
        and peace; and
Whereas NEPAD supporters estimate that the successful implementation of the 
        proposal could create up to $64,000,000 annually to be used towards debt 
        relief, and investment and trade opportunities: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives 
that--
            (1) member states of the newly formed African Union (AU) 
        should be commended for their efforts in creating an 
        organization dedicated to establishing democratic and economic 
        reform;
            (2) the President should encourage domestic and 
        international support of the AU and the implementation of the 
        New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) plan;
            (3) the President should further promote and encourage 
        private investment and growth in Africa, including public-
        private partnerships; and
            (4) the United States should continue to establish and 
        carry out economic initiatives that will further economic and 
        social reform in Africa.
                                 <all>