The African Union was formed as a successor to the Organization of African Unity (OAU), which was meant to secure Africa’s long-term economic and political future and free it from the trappings of foreign domination and exploitation. Today the continent is seemingly more embroiled with the various social and environmental dilemmas that plague the world, making a constructive evaluation of the AU’s accomplishments, challenges and potentials imperative.

Please join us for this lively and critical discussion celebrating the 10th anniversary of the African Union in a quest to assess its challenges, success stories and pitfalls days ahead of the AU Summit. There will be an analysis and review of such issues as: African political sovereignty, the Peer Review Mechanism, the AU as a member of the G20, Diaspora/Region 6, gender issues, conflict resolution, and the prospects for effective continental integration. Ambassadors, experts, grassroots organizers and concerned African scholars will weigh in on these critical issues.

Panelists:

• Amina Salim Ali: African Union Mission Ambassador
• Kofi Dompere: PhD HU Prof of Economics and Philosophy
• Ebrahim Rasool: Ambassador of South Africa
• James Early: Smithsonian Institution and IPS board member
• Serge Banyongen: Ottawa University
• Austin Thompson: Worker and human rights organizer

Co-Moderated by Sarah Pray, Policy Analyst for African Affairs of Open Society Institute and Raymond Gilpin, Associate Vice President of Sustainable Economies Centers of Innovation for U.S. Institute of Peace.

Co-Sponsors: The Institute for Policy Studies’ Foreign Policy In Focus project, TransAfrica Forum, Africa Action, Open Society Institute, and African Faith & Justice Network.

RSVP is required! Please RSVP before 5pm on January 18th to Mimi at mdieupe@ips-dc.org. It will be a tight program so please arrive on time.