Treaty Establishing the African Community

Abstract

Preamble to the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community (AEC). It highlights the foundation principles guiding the Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), including adherence to the OAU Charter and international law, and a recognition of the obstacles hindering African development. The Preamble underscores a collective duty to harness the continent's resources for the well being of its peoples. It traces the historical commitment to economic integration through various resolutions and declarations, notably the Kinshasa Declaration (1976), the Monrovia Declaration (calling for an African Common Market), and the Lagos Plan of Action and Final Act of Lagos (1980), which set the year 2000 as the target for establishing the AEC.