African Union law

African Union law is the body of law comprising treaties, resolutions and decisions that have direct and indirect application to the member States of the African Union. Similar to European Union law, AU law regulates the behavior of countries party to the regional body.

Development of law and legal norms

In January 2017, a research project was established at the University of Sussex Law School, UK, on the concept of AU law. The project received initial funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council, funding the project through 2019. The project explores the emergence of AU law as a new legal order and its implications for existing legal order in the region.
A number of academics have advocated further developing the legal framework of the African Union to advance regional goals. Professor Michèle Olivier of the University of Hull has suggested that "African Union law will hold member states accountable to comply with international and continentally agreed standards on, inter alia, democracy, good governance and human rights."