ABSTRACT

This book explores the emergence of African Union (AU) law as a legal order and its implications for existing order in the region. As an authoritative text on the development of AU law, the book covers such pertinent issues as legislative powers, competences, direct effect in AU law, subsidiarity, interventionism, and enforcement of laws.

Olufemi Amao argues that there is a gradual movement from intergovernmentalism to supranationalism in the African Union legal order, and explores how this trajectory gradually and incrementally de-emphasises the discourse on nation state sovereignty; a concept that has caused many problems in the African context. Drawing upon EU law as a comparison, the book also examines how the development of supranationalism affects crucial issues such as human rights, democratic reforms, territorial matters, tribal and religious disputes, and economic relations.

As a comprehensive examination of the development of law within a union, this book will be of great interest and use to students, scholars and practitioners in international law, international relations, and African studies.

chapter 1|3 pages

Introduction

chapter 3|25 pages

Ascertaining the sources of African Union law

A needle in a haystack?

chapter 4|16 pages

Membership of the African Union

chapter 5|19 pages

African economic and business law

Green shoots in the new economic legal order

chapter 7|31 pages

Human rights in African Union law

chapter 9|13 pages

Custom, morality and African Union law

The case of sexual orientation in Africa

chapter 10|22 pages

Enforcement of African Union law

chapter 11|3 pages

Conclusions