Geography of the African Union explained
See main article: Geography of Africa. The African Union covers almost the entirety of continental Africa and several off-shore islands. Consequently, it is wildly diverse, including the world's largest hot desert (the Sahara), huge jungles and savannas, and the world's longest river (the Nile).
Overview
The AU presently has an area of, with of coastline. The vast majority of this area is on continental Africa, while the only significant territory off the mainland is the island of Madagascar (the world's fourth largest), accounting for slightly less than 2% of the total.
Extreme points
African Union at large| Northernmost | Ras ben Sakka | | (37°21′ N) |
| Southernmost | | | (34°51'15"S) [1] |
| Westernmost | | | (25°25'W) |
| Easternmost | | | (63°30'E) |
| Most distant point from the coastline | |  | near the town Obo. |
| Highest point above land | | | 5,895 m (6,447 yd) |
| Lowest point below sea level | | | −156 m (−171 yd) |
| |    
   | 6,650 km (4,130 miles) long |
| |  | 1,470 m (4,820 ft) deep |
| Largest lake by area | | | 68,800 km2 (26,600 sq mi) |
| | | 948 m (3,110 feet) |
| | | 587,040 km2 (226,657 sq mi) | |
Countries bordering the African Union
The AU has two land borders: Morocco borders the Spanish semi-enclaves of Ceuta, Melilla, and Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula borders the Gaza Strip for 11 km (6.8 mi) and Israel for 400 km (248 mi) on its western frontier. Since it is Asian, the Sinai is the only territorial region of the AU on another geopolitical continent.
Previous borders
See main article: Enlargement of the African Union. The AU is the successor to the Organisation of African Unity, an international organization that gradually included sovereign African states as the continent was decolonized. The membership of the African Union, and consequently its borders, have not changed since its founding.
Founding of the OAU: May 25 – December 13, 1963
- The Gambia – Surrounded by Senegal.
- Guinea-Bissau – A dependent area of Portugal, joined on November 19, 1973, prior to internationally recognized independence, bordering Guinea to the east and south, and Senegal to the north.
- Kenya – A colony of the United Kingdom at the time, Kenya joined on December 13, 1963, the day after its independence. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the north, Somalia to the east, Tanzania to the south, Uganda to the west, and Sudan to the northwest.
- Malawi – A colony of the United Kingdom at the time, Malawi joined on July 13, 1964, one week after independence.
- Portugal – At the time, Angola was a province, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo to its north; the Cabinda enclave is surrounded by the Republic of the Congo to its north and the Democratic Republic of the Congo on its east and south. Angola joined on February 11, 1975, prior to its internationally recognized independence.
- Spain – Enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla are surrounded by Morocco; Spanish Sahara was a province at the time, to the south. Equatorial Guinea was also a province, bordering Cameroon to the north and Gabon to the east and south.
- Zambia – A colony of the United Kingdom at the time, Zambia joined the AU in October, 1965, after gaining independence on October 24, the year prior. The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania lie to the north.
December 13, 1963 – July 13, 1964
July 13 – December 16, 1964
December 16, 1964 – October 1965
- Zambia joins the OAU. It bordered the following territories to the south:
- Botswana – A colony of the United Kingdom at the time, Botswana joined the OAU on October 31, 1966; it achieved independence the September 30 prior.
- South West Africa – A colony of the United Kingdom under the mandate of South Africa, the territory wouldn't become independent until March 21, 1990, as Namibia. It joined the OAU in June of that year.
- Zimbabwe – A colony of the United Kingdom at the time, Zimbabwe joined the OAU in June, 1980; it achieved independence as Rhodesia on November 11, 1965.
October 31, 1965
- The Gambia joins the OAU.
October 31, 1966 – July 13, 1964
- Botswana and Lesotho join the OAU. The bordered:
- South Africa – While independent, South Africa was ruled under the system of apartheid, and was ineligible and uninterested in membership. Following a democratic revolution in 1994, it joined the OAU that June 6; becoming the most recent member. It bordered Botswana to the south and is perforated by Lesotho.
August 1968 – September 24, 1968
September 24, 1968 – October 12, 1968
October 12, 1968 – November 19, 1973
November 19, 1973 – February 11, 1975
- Guinea-Bissau joins the OAU. At the time, it was still considered a dependency of Portugal. It gained independence on September 10, 1974.
February 11 – July 18, 1975
- Angola joins the OAU. At the time, it was still considered a dependency of Portugal. It gained independence on November 11, 1975.
July 18 – February 27, 1976
Cape Verde, Comoros, Mozambique, and São Tomé and Príncipe join the OAU.
February 27 – June 29, 1976
June 29, 1976 – June 27, 1977
- Seychelles joins the OAU.
June 27, 1977 – June 1980
- Djibouti becomes independent of France and joins the OAU.
June 1980 – February 22, 1982
Zimbabwe joins the OAU.
February 22, 1982 – November 12, 1984
- The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic joins the OAU. It does not participate in the next two summits, due to pressure from Morocco.
November 12, 1984 – March 21, 1990
- Morocco leaves the OAU; leaving no border with Spain.
March 21 – June 1990
- Namibia becomes independent of the South African mandate.
June 1990 – May 24, 1993
May 24, 1993 – June 6, 1994
- Eritrea becomes independent from Ethiopia and joins the OAU.
June 6, 1994 – 2011
- South Africa joins the OAU after the fall of apartheid.
2011 – January 30, 2017
January 30, 2017 – present
- Morocco readmitted, moving the border to Spain.
References
Notes and References
- If the Prince Edward Islands are included in Africa, then Marion Island is the southernmost point at 46°54'S.
