The Organization of African Unity was replaced with

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks which organization took over from the Organization of African Unity (OAU).

Step 2: Explain the concept The OAU was founded on 25 May 1963 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, by 32 independent African states. Its main aims were:

• To promote unity and solidarity among African states
• To end colonialism and apartheid in Africa
• To defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of member states

By the late 1990s, leaders felt the OAU was too weak. It lacked power to enforce decisions and could not easily intervene in conflicts. The Sirte Declaration of 1999 in Libya called for a stronger body. The African Union (AU) was launched in Durban, South Africa, in July 2002, formally replacing the OAU. Its aims include greater economic integration, peace and security, and the right to intervene in member states in cases of grave circumstances such as genocide.

Step 3: Check the options

• A. African Union: Correct. It is the direct successor of the OAU.
• B. Commonwealth of Nations: An association of mostly former British colonies, not an African body.
• C. ECOWAS: A West African regional body formed in 1975. It exists alongside the AU and did not replace the OAU.
• D. League of Nations: A global body formed after World War I, which ended in 1946. It has no link to the OAU.
• E. United Nations Organization: A global body formed in 1945, still active, and not a successor to the OAU.

Step 4: Answer The correct option is A. African Union.

Tip: Remember "OAU → AU, 2002." The name loses the "Organization of" and gains "Union", which signals closer integration. Other related dates: OAU 1963, ECOWAS 1975, AU 2002.