The African Union

The African Union (AU) was created in 2002, replacing the former Organization of African Unity, which was founded on  May 25, 1963. Imbued with the values of independence, unity, peace and cooperation, the AU seeks to promote African solutions to the challenges faced by African countries, with a view to strengthen peace, sovereignty and social and economic development on the continent. The organization’s objectives and goals are listed in the so-called ‘2063 Agenda’, launched on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Organization of the African Unity, in 2013, with the aim to guide the works of AU in the next 50 years.

In 2018, the African Union Agency for Development (AUDA-NEPAD) was created, with a mandate to coordinate and carry out projects that promote regional integration and accelerate the achievement of the 2063 Agenda objectives, strengthening the capacities of member states and regional organizations.

In April 2019, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) came into force, which will become the world’s largest free-trade area once it becomes fully operational. With its secretariat based in Accra, Ghana, the AfCFTA’s goal is to increase intra-African trade and to strengthen Africa’s position in the international market.

The African Union has contributed significantly to the continent’s institutional development by playing an important role in conflict prevention.The AU’s initiatives are aimed at the respect of human rights, economic openness and transparent administrative framework of its member states. Highlights among these initiatives include the promotion of sustainable development, gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Bilateral relations

The African Union is an important forum for discussing and promoting initiatives with African countries in a wide range of areas – from politics to economics, from agriculture to social development. The opening of the Brazilian Embassy in Adis Abeba, Ethiopia, home to the AU headquarters, in 2005, also reflected Brazil’s interest in the  activities of the organization. Since then, Brazil has been invited to take part in the main AU events as an observer country. Since  2007, Brazil and the AU maintain a Technical Cooperation Agreement, a legal framework for several bilateral and regional cooperation projects between Brazil and its African partners. The ambassador of Brazil to Ethiopia is also accredited as representative of the Brazilian government to the AU.

Chronology of bilateral relations

2024 –  President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva participates in thee 37th Summit of the African Union, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

2024 – Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of the Federative Republic of Brazil and the African Union concerning Mutual Cooperation on Topics Relevant to Science, Technology and Innovation

2023 – The African Union joins the G20: AU’s first participation as a member of the group coincides with the Brazilian rotating presidency

2023 – Minister of Foreign Affairs Mauro Vieira visits the headquarters of the African Union, in Addis Ababa

2018 – The undersecretary general for Africa and the Middle East, ambassador Fernando José Marroni de Abreu, visits the AU headquarters in Adis Abeba

2015 – Brazilian Army General Joarez Alves Pereira Júnior visits the Peace and Security Department of the African Union, in Adis Abeba

2013 – President Dilma Rousseff attends the African Union Golden Jubilee in Adis Abeba, Ethiopia

2013 – The Third South America-Africa Summit (ASA Summit) is held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea

2012 – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) sign a memorandum of understanding on the occasion of the visit of the Executive Director of NEPAD, Ibrahim Assane Mayki, to Brazil

2011 – Former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva attends the 17th Summit of the African Union, held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, as head of the Brazilian delegation

2009 – President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva attends the 13th Summit of the African Union, in Sirte, Libya

2009 – The Second South America-Africa Summit (ASA Summit)  is held in Isla Margarita, Venezuela

2007 – The president of the African Union Commission, Alpha Oumar Konaré, visits Brazil. Brazil and the AU sign the Technical Cooperation Agreement

2006 – The first Africa-South America Summit (ASA Summit) is held in Abuja, Nigeria (endorsed by the African Union, a member of its Coordination Group, which is responsible for monitoring it)

2005 – Opening of the Brazilian Embassy in Adis Abeba, with responsibility for Brazil’s representation to the African Union