What’s next after a united Africa? Enhancing the AU-African Civil Society Relationship

The Organisation of African Unity (OAU) provided a foundation for African state leaders to officially unite and collectively pursue a common interest in African independence. Subsequently, the African Union (AU) replaced the OAU with a similar vision of advancing an integrated Africa that is more prosperous, peaceful, and driven by its own people in the global arena. Despite its aspiration to maintain the African Unity agenda, the AU requires a more inclusive and cooperative approach to African regional governance, one that is based on the active participation of African civil society in its decision-making processes. This paper challenges the state-centred approach to African regional governance that has hitherto existed in the OAU by exploring how the AU can effectively engage its non-state actors, especially African civil society and NGOs, in enhancing global governance in Africa. It argues that while the creation of a globally recognised institution, such as the AU, continues to unite African states in building a common interest for the continent, the idea of enhancing the AU’s relationship with African civil society groups is essential for promoting cooperation and global governance in Africa.