ABSTRACT
The formation of the African Union reflects the developments and changes that have occurred in many parts of Africa in recent years. Among these developments are the growth of democracy and an emerging political philosophy that concentrates less on the battles of the past and more on the need to improve the lives of ordinary people. A major change between the AU and its predecessor is that the principle of state sovereignty has been abandoned. One of the aims of the AU is the promotion of “democratic principles and institutions, popular participation and good governance.” The AU has the right to initiate a so-called “peer review” of a member country’s record, intervene in the event of genocide or war crimes, and impose sanctions. Under the AU’s directive, for example, member states have sent troops to Darfur in Sudan to try to end the genocide there.
