(Strathmore University Press, 2016-01) Jaoko, Imani
The potential power of Africa is undisputed. The continent is home to a large,
young population and is a potential economic powerhouse in the world. In order
to realise its full potential, the African Union (AU) must guide the continent.
The AU, has however, repeatedly faltered in this regard. The implementation
mechanisms of the AU seem to be its Achilles’ heel. The AU suffers no shortage of
well-formulated policies; instead it suffers from a chronic inability to follow up on
these policies. This paper maps the formation of the AU, the promise it held and
the factors that limit the ability of the AU to implement its programs and policies.
The paper then briefly examines the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM)
looking at the problems of implementation it has faced and how these may be
remedied.