1963 - The Founding of the Organization of African Unity Draft Committee

On May 9, 1963, African leaders met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to finalize the formation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), an institution aimed at promoting solidarity among newly independent African nations. While the official signing would occur on May 25, this early May 9 gathering was critical: the draft committee, including representatives from Ghana, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and other emerging states, hammered out the principles that would define post-colonial Africa’s first major pan-continental alliance. The OAU sought to eradicate colonialism, defend sovereignty, and foster economic cooperation. This May 9 draft session is often overlooked but was pivotal because it set the ideological tone—balancing radical liberation goals with pragmatic diplomacy—that would influence Africa\’s trajectory for decades. The OAU eventually evolved into today’s African Union (AU), but it was these behind-the-scenes May negotiations that truly stitched together a shared vision for a free and united Africa.