Africa Union's Governance Regime? Revitalizing African Governance Architecture (AGA)

Considering the Organization of African Unity's (OAU's) strong determination of sovereign equality of African states and non-interference in internal affairs of member states, the OAU's commitment towards democracy is a recent phenomenon. The objective of this paper was to provide a hint on the need for the revitalization of the African Union's governance regime, African Governance Architecture (AGA), so that it can realize the objective of the African Union (AU) vis-à-vis promoting democracy, good governance and human rights. This paper was based on extensive review of relevant literatures and relevant academic works. The paper argued that the AGA's progress in terms of promoting and sustaining democracy remains tardy due to its financial dependence on external partners, reluctance of the AU member states in subscribing to the AU democratic norms including the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG) and a lack of synergy between the AU Organs and Regional Economic Communities mandated to promote democracy, human rights and good governance. This paper further uncover that, African Governance Architecture (AGA) lacks decision making power which handicapped its efforts of consolidating democracy in Africa. The paper suggested that if democracy, human rights and good governance are to be achieved in Africa, the AGA should be institutionalized as the AU decision making organ and African Union member states should also double the commitment towards the promotion of democracy, human rights and good governance.