Launched in July 2002, with the vision of ‘an Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa, driven by its citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena’, the African Union (AU) aims to promote development, socio-economic advancement, peace and security, human rights and democracy, and regional integration. The AU is organized as an international organization that strives to execute and fulfil its mandate through policies and decisions that it adopts. In the landmark special research report on AU decision-making actors and processes, AU decisions and decision-making actors are classified into legislative, executive and judicial/quasi-judicial. One of the key policy and decision-making bodies of the AU is the Executive Council.