It was established to promote cooperation among new African nations.
The Organization for African Unity (OAU) was a regional organization that grouped the countries of the African continent. It was founded in 1963, one year after the dissolution of the Union of African States.
Its purpose was to promote the unity and solidarity of the African states and to serve as a collective for the continent. It was also dedicated to eradicating colonialism and promoting international cooperation. The Africans wanted to create an equivalent to the European Union but composed of all the countries that make up the African continent.