IMPACT OF EXTERNAL INFLUENCES ON THE ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY (OAU), 1963-2002

Abstract

This paper examines how external forces shaped the development, performance, and eventual transformation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) from 1963 to 2002. It explores the impact of Cold War rivalry, foreign economic pressures, international institutions, and global political expectations on the OAU’s diplomatic choices and structural limitations. The study argues that although the OAU was established to protect African sovereignty and unity, it nevertheless operated in ways that reflected the influence of global power rivalries, donor conditions, and shifting international norms. By analyzing themes such as Cold War alignments, economic dependence, regional conflicts, non-alignment, and the transition to the African Union (AU), the study highlights the tension between Africa’s pursuit of collective autonomy and the external constraints that shaped continental politics. It concludes that these external pressures contributed to both the weaknesses of the OAU and the drive for institutional renewal that produced the AU in 2002.