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 all the 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, which was approved in 2018 and provides a framework for the management of both physical, audio-visuals and electronic records. The AU Archives serves as a central repository of historical knowledge and a research reference centre for records relating to the African Union and the Organization of African Unity.

  1. Mission

    2. The main mission of the African Union Archives is to:

    • Appraise, collect, organize, process, preserve and disseminate archival records materials pertaining to AU/OAU heritage information to the intended users.
    • Provide adequate facilities for the retention and preservation of records of both the AU and OAU.
    • Serve as a reference center for researchers interested in the AU and the OAU as an organization.
    • Formulate and implement records management procedures that ensure the collection and preservation of AU/OAU Archival material collection.
  2. Scope of Archives collections

    3. African Union Archives aims to comprehensively collect documents/records of enduring value pertaining to the history and heritage of the organization. The Archives serve as the organization’s institutional memory, focusing on documentation and evolution of events and policies. In this regard, the Archives strive to collect ongoing documents and records that illustrate decision-making processes and the formulation of policies at the African Union. The current holdings of the African Union Archives include documents/records from the African Union, African Union Organs and Regional Offices, such as the Assembly records, Council of Ministers, Executive Council, the Permanent Representative Committee (PRC), the Peace and Security Council, the Ministers of Trade and Information etc. The archival collection encompasses Protocols, Treaties, Charters, and more records available in various formats, including audio-visual materials, electronic resources, and all types of printed records.

  3. The Archives Common Repository

    4. The Archives Common Repository offers over 14,000 records in full-text PDF format, and this number will continue to grow. The digitized documents accessible through the African Union Common Repository span from the First Session of the Preparatory Conference of African Ministers of Foreign Affairs in May 1963 -1990. The repository also includes digitally born records from 2008 onward to the present. Currently, the digitization of remaining records from 1990 to 2005 is in progress, albeit slowly due to staffing limitations within the Archives. In 2011, the Archives Unit collaborated with other AU offices to create a comprehensive information gateway, allowing users to conduct a single search that retrieves results from various African Union Offices and Organs. When users search the Archives Common Repository, they are accessing records from multiple African Union Offices. Users of the Archives include AU staff members from the AUC, AU Organs, Regional Offices, Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC), Diplomatic Corps, International Organizations, as well as Researchers from Member States and International Scholars interested in the work of the African Union.

  4. Archives Facilities and Services

    5. The AU Archives falls under Information Communication Directorate (ICD) dedicated to promoting the exploration and appreciation of AU/OAU rich heritage. We invite you to explore the Archives' common digital repository to connect with our archival collections. The Archives are open from Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 17:00 hours, and closed on weekends and public holidays.

    To access the African Union Archives at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, you must obtain permission from the African Union Archives.
    The following documentation is required:

    • A letter from the researcher requesting permission to consult the records held in the African Union Archives.
    • A letter from your university or institution confirming your status as a scholar working on a research topic relevant to our collection.
    • Proposed dates for your visit.
    • A copy of your valid passport.
    • Please be aware that the AU cannot assist with visa applications for entry into the country; you will need to arrange this on your own.
    • Please note that documents/records intended for public dissemination are officially available for research purposes, whereas access to confidential documents and records is restricted.

    For further assistance with for use of the archives` resources, please feel free to reach out to us for more information, to arrange a visit, or to explore our online resources, feel free to reach out to the following Archives Staff:

    Thank you for reaching out to us.

Note: All efforts have been made to provide high quality information. Links off the site are not the responsibility of AU, her partners and or collaborators. Please send feedback on any broken links or errors to us via the Send Feedback link below.