From 9-11 July 2001 in Lusaka, Zambia, at the fifth Extraordinary Session, Africa set a new direction for the future with the official formation of the African Union (AU). The AU aims at political and economic integration that will pave the way to a better life for all Africans.

(Excerpt from K. Y. Amoako's, opening statement at the Lusaka Summit)

"By moving ahead with the African Union, this meeting represents a historic opportunity to accelerate regional integration - a challenge to Africa made more demanding today by the far-reaching changes occurring in the global economy. A pragmatic regional integration agenda holds out the prospects of improved living standards for our people and the dividends of assured peace and stability that will accrue from the synergies between diplomacy and development. It also offers a gateway for our continent to enter the competitive global market. Furthermore a strong regional economy can facilitate the pooling of risks between otherwise vulnerable economies, and enable the continent to exploit complementarities and attract the levels of investment required to sustain economic growth and development in Africa"

The Constitutive Act of the African Union states that there will be an Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Union and the Secretarial will be called a Commission. An Executive Council of Ministers of the Union is expected to be very active, as well as the Pan- African Parliament of the Union. There will also be a permanent Representative Committee, a Specialized Technical Committee of the Union, an Economic, Social, and Cultural Council, a Court of Justice and Financial institutions.