Africa is not short on good ideas, but frequently fails to put them into practice

The document traces the transition from the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), founded in 1963, to the African Union (AU), launched in 2002. It highlights the historical tension between gradualist and radical approaches to African unity, exemplified by the Monrovia and Casablanca Blocs. While the AU has introduced significant institutions and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), the author argues that a pattern of policy non-implementation persists, leaving visions like Agenda 2063 largely aspirational.

• The Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was shaped by a compromise between the Monrovia Bloc, which favoured a gradual approach and economic unity before political unity, and the Casablanca Bloc, which sought a centralised pan-African government and a unified army.
• The African Union (AU) was established in 2002 in Durban following a debate between Muammar Gaddafi's proposal for an immediate "United States of Africa" and Thabo Mbeki's preference for gradual transformation, with Mbeki's approach prevailing.
• Recent AU reforms led by Paul Kagame aim to reduce dependence on European funding and increase efficiency, though the merger of the Political Affairs and Peace and Security departments has faced challenges including job uncertainty and vacant senior posts.
• The African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) aims to create a single market for the continent, but its full potential is hindered by resistance from many states regarding the free movement of people.
• There is a systemic failure in Africa to translate policy into practice, evidenced by the non-implementation of African Peer Review Mechanism standards and the fact that Agenda 2063 remains aspirational, including the failure to "Silence the Guns" by 2020.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2023). Africa is not short on good ideas, but frequently fails to put them into practice. https://saiia.org.za/research/africa-is-not-short-on-good-ideas-but-frequently-fails-to-put-them-into-practice/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Africa is not short on good ideas, but frequently fails to put them into practice. 2023. https://saiia.org.za/research/africa-is-not-short-on-good-ideas-but-frequently-fails-to-put-them-into-practice/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Africa is not short on good ideas, but frequently fails to put them into practice |date=2 June 2023 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/africa-is-not-short-on-good-ideas-but-frequently-fails-to-put-them-into-practice/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2023africa, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Africa is not short on good ideas, but frequently fails to put them into practice}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2023}, month = jun, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/africa-is-not-short-on-good-ideas-but-frequently-fails-to-put-them-into-practice/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }