[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 234 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 234

Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Organization 
of African Unity (OAU) and commending its successor, the African Union.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 23, 2013

     Ms. Bass (for herself and Mr. Honda) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               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 
        inequity;
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 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 the affairs 
        of 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 well-resourced and capable of effectively addressing current 
        conflicts and preventing future ones, advancing socioeconomic 
        development and economic growth, 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 in the areas of peace and security, economic development, 
        regional integration, health and social welfare, and good governance on 
        the African continent;
Whereas on June 14, 2012, President 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, spuring 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 African leaders 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 the African Union mutually 
        benefit the people of the United States and Africa and the political, 
        security, economic, and social relations that link them: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (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 President Barack Obama 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 President Barack Obama 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, and open markets and equitable socioeconomic 
        growth and development as key pillars for long-term stability 
        and security on the continent of and United States engagement 
        with Africa.
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