About AU Common Repository

The African Union (AU) Archives is responsible for acquiring, processing, and preserving archival materials of enduring value related to the African Union and its predecessor, the Organization of African Unity (OAU). The Archives' primary purpose is to preserve the documentary heritage of the African Union, ensuring that vital records are collected, preserved, organized, and made accessible to a wide range of clients, including researchers, member states, users, and collaborating partners.

The African Union Archives is located at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, within the African Union Commission (AUC). The AU Archives operates in accordance with the African Union Administrative Policy on Archives and Records Management (2018), which provides the framework for managing physical, audio-visual, and electronic records. It serves as a central repository of historical knowledge and a research reference centre for records relating to the AU and the OAU.

Mission

The main mission of the African Union Archives is to:

  • Appraise, collect, organize, process, preserve, and disseminate archival materials pertaining to AU/OAU heritage.
  • Provide adequate facilities for the retention and preservation of AU and OAU records.
  • Serve as a reference center for researchers interested in the AU and the OAU as an organization.
  • Formulate and implement records management procedures ensuring proper collection and preservation of archival materials.

Scope of Archives Collections

The African Union Archives strives to comprehensively collect documents and records of enduring value pertaining to the history and heritage of the organization. As the institutional memory of the AU, it focuses on documenting the evolution of events and policy processes.

Current holdings include records from AU Organs and Regional Offices, such as the Assembly, Council of Ministers, Executive Council, Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC), Peace and Security Council, Ministers of Trade and Information, and more. Collections include:

  • Protocols, Treaties, Charters
  • Printed materials
  • Audio-visual collections
  • Electronic resources
  • Digitized historical documents

The Archives Common Repository

The Archives Common Repository provides access to over 50,000 full-text PDF records, with the number continuing to grow. Documents span from the First Session of the Preparatory Conference of African Ministers of Foreign Affairs in May 1963 up to 1990.

The repository also includes digitally born records from 2008 to the present. Digitization of remaining records from 1990–2005 is ongoing, though progress is slow due to staffing limitations.

In 2011, the Archives Unit collaborated with other AU departments,offices and organs to develop an integrated information gateway, enabling users to perform unified searches across AU Offices and Organs. Users include AU staff, the PRC, Diplomatic Corps, international organizations, researchers, and scholars from Member States.

Archives Facilities and Services

The AU Archives, under the Information Communication Directorate (ICD), is dedicated to promoting the preservation and use of AU/OAU heritage. The Archives are open:

Monday – Friday, 08:00–17:00 (EAT)
Closed on weekends and public holidays.

To access the African Union Archives in Addis Ababa, visitors must obtain prior permission. Required documentation includes:

  • A letter from the researcher requesting access to Archives records.
  • A letter from the researcher’s university or institution confirming academic status and relevance of the research topic.
  • Proposed dates of visit.
  • A valid passport copy.

Please note: The AU does not facilitate visa processing; visitors must arrange entry permits independently.

Public access is limited to records approved for dissemination. Confidential records remain restricted in accordance with AU policies.

Contact Information

For assistance or inquiries, please contact the AU Archives staff:

Phone: +251 115 517 770 (Ext 4064 / 4063)

Thank you for reaching out to the African Union Archives.

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