The African Union finances - how does it work?

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Fifteen years after the transition from the Organisation of African Unity to the African Union, the project of building and fostering the continental organization remains ambitious both politically and financially. While political integration has garnered significant scholarly attention, particularly regarding the African Peace and Security Architecture and the evolving African Governance Architecture, the financial dimension has been less explored. This work focuses on the principles governing member states' financing of the Union, the non-compliance of some states with these principles, and the efforts to introduce compliance and sanctions mechanisms. It examines the shifts in member states' contributions to the Union's budget, the budget's composition, and the increasing reliance on donor funding, especially in peace and security. The discussion also highlights the urgent need for alternative funding sources to support the AU's ambitious agenda, reflecting on the challenges of ensuring stable financial resources for the organization’s objectives. This analysis aims to shed light on the complexities of financial governance within the AU and the implications of donor dependency on its operational effectiveness.