CM/Res. 5 (I)
REGIONAL GROUPINGS
The Council of Ministers meeting in its First Ordinary Session in Dakar, Senegal, from 2 to 11 August 1963,
Whereas the setting up of the OAU has given rise to great and legitimate hopes amongst African peoples,
Mindful of the will of these peoples to put an end to the division of African States,
Whereas this will unanimously proclaimed by the Heads of State and Government at the Addis Ababa Conference,
Whereas furthermore regional grouping have favoured the achievement of African Unity and the development of co-operation amongst Member States,
Whereas also the Charter of the OAU has made provisions for economic, cultural, scientific, technical and military specialized institutions in order to strengthen solidarity amongst African peoples and co-operation among Member States,
Considering therefore the need for regional or sub-regional groupings to evolve with a view to their adaptation to the charter of the OAU,
TAKES NOTE of the will of Member States to implement all means in order to bring about this adaptation;
RECOMMENDS that any regional grouping or sub-regional groupings be in keeping with the Charter of the OAU and meet the following criteria:
Geographical realities and economic, social and cultural factors common to the States;
Co-ordinating of economic, social and cultural activities peculiar to the States concerned;
SUGGESTS to the African States signatories of Charters in existence before the setting up of the OAU that they henceforth refer to the Charter of Addis Ababa,
INVITES all African States desiring to constitute regional groupings or sub- groupings to conform with the principles set forth above and to contemplate the integration of already existing bodies in to the specialized institutions of the OAU;
REQUESTS Member States to deposit the statutes of the said groupings at the seat of the OAU before their entry into force.