ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY: AT A CROSSROADS

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00939253
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: February 24, 2023
• Document Release Date: February 24, 2023
• Case Number: F-2014-00485
• Publication Date: May 27, 1994

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Directorate of Intelligence
Intelligence Memorandum
Office of African and Latin American Analysis
27 May 1994
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Organization of African Unity: At a Crossroads (S-N-F)-
111MAY
Summary
South Africa's passage to black majority rule and Rwanda's descent into tribal
bloodshed symbolize the crossroads that the Organization of African Unity (OAU) sioy 19,4
faces in confronting a changed array of problems.
� The OAU was founded in 1963 by newly independent states concerned with
eradicating the remaining colonial presence in Africa, eliminating white
minority rule, and protecting their sovereignty and territorial integrity against
presumed external threats.'
� This year's OAU summit in Tunisia beginning on 13 June marks the end of this
30-year preoccupation with African liberation and highlights the OAU's new
challenge to deal more effectively with key issues internal to Africa--
particularly ethnic conflict. (3 Nfl
To make the organization more effective, OAU leaders will have to work around a
number of constraints.
� Its outdated charter leans against OAU involvement in member states'
internal affairs, does not mention democracy, and makes little reference to
human rights.
� Moreover, the Rwandan crisis underscores the OAU's lack of capability�or
intention�to organize and mount an African peacekeeping operation on its
own. cs Nn
The OAU has taken modest steps in the past three years to develop a greater capacity
for addressing some of the continent's pressing difficulties, particularly in the area of
conflict resolution. The potential for greater South African involvement over time
may enhance the OAU's structural reform efforts, but for the foreseeable future the
organization probably will continue to be overshadowed by the UN and regionally
important African states. TS-f449-----_.
(b)(3) CIAAct
ALA M 94-20147
WARNING NOTICE
INTELLIGENCE SOURCES
OR METHODS INVOLVED
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1 The Western Sahara, once ruled by Spain, is the only former colonial territory whose status has not
been resolved. No date has been set for a planned UN-supervised referendum on whether the territory
should become independent or be absorbed by Morocco. (S NI)
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Secret
Changing the Guard at the June Summit
The OAU will welcome South Africa as its 53rd member with considerable fanfare
and make its annual change of leadership at the summit, but its most urgent task will
be to ensure that the OAU plays a credible supporting role in international efforts to
deal with Rwanda.2 In honor of Nelson Mandela, the summit conferees may select
Pretoria to host the 1995 OAU summit, which would make the new South African
President the OAU Chairman for 1995-96. Tunisian President Ben Ali is scheduled
to become the OAU Chairman for the coming year.
Key Issues Facing the OAU
South Africa's Impact. At least in the near term, it is our judgment that South
African participation in OAU affairs--beyond lending the organization greater
prestige by virtue of its membership�will not provide the concrete resources that
most observers agree the OAU needs. Most indications are that President Mandela's
government of national unity will take a go-slow approach toward its reemergence on
the international scene.
2 OAU foreign ministers meet from 8 to 11 June to set the agenda for the summit in Tunisia to be held
13-15 June. 11-34E).
This memorandum was prepared hy
Analysis. Contributions were provided h�,,
Analyis. and by
and queries are welcome and may he directed to
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It.thiffioceffiocef AoffriLceaadn a ne i.sdh Li pa tAi n n aAl ymseiri can is
C)ffice of African and Latin American
Chief, Regional Issues Group. ALA
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