African Union

=== Languages ===
{{See also|List of official languages by country and territory}}
[[File:Africa ethnic groups 1996.jpg|thumb|Map showing the traditional language families represented in Africa (1996)]]

The official languages of the African Union are Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, [[Swahili language|Swahili]], and "any other African language".<ref name="au.int" /><ref name=":4" /> The primary working languages of the African Union are English and French. To a lesser extent Portuguese and Arabic are used. The [[Constitutive Act of the African Union|Constitutive Act]], for example, is written in English, French and Arabic, while the protocol amending the Constitutive Act is written in English, French and Portuguese. As of 2020, the AU website is available in its entirety in English, partially in French and minimally in Arabic.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home {{!}} African Union |url=https://au.int/en |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=au.int |archive-date=18 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171118030407/https://au.int/en/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Portuguese and Swahili versions were added as "coming soon" (''em breve'') in April 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-04-06|title=Kiswahili {{!}} African Union|url=https://au.int/kiswahili|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406225637/https://au.int/kiswahili|url-status=dead|archive-date=2019-04-06|access-date=2021-05-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://au.int/portuguese|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190407023106/https://au.int/portuguese|archive-date = 7 April 2019|title = Portuguese &#124; African Union}}</ref>

According to the Constitutive Act of the African Union,<ref>Article 25, Constitutive Act of the African Union.</ref> 
{{blockquote|The working languages of the Union and all its institutions shall be, if
possible, African languages, Arabic, English, French and Portuguese.}}

A protocol amending the Constitutive Act was adopted in 2003 and as of April 2020 has been ratified by 30 of the 37 member states needed for a two-thirds majority. It would change the above wording to,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.au.int/en/treaties/protocol-amendments-constitutive-act-african-union|title=Protocol on the Amendments to the Constitutive Act of the African Union {{!}} African Union|website=www.au.int|access-date=2020-04-27|archive-date=17 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617184101/http://au.int/en/treaties/protocol-amendments-constitutive-act-african-union|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{blockquote|1. The official languages of the Union and all its institutions shall be Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Kiswahili and any other African language.<br />
2. The Executive Council shall determine the process and practical modalities for the use of official languages as working languages.}}

Founded in 2001 under the auspices of the AU, the [[African Academy of Languages]] promotes the usage and perpetuation of [[Languages of Africa|African languages]] among African people. In 2004 [[Joaquim Chissano]] of Mozambique addressed the assembly in Swahili, but had to translate his words himself.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3871315.stm Swahili baffles African leaders] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111081032/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3871315.stm |date=11 January 2020 }}, ''BBC'' 6 July 2004</ref> The AU declared 2006 the Year of African Languages.<ref name="Year of African Languages">{{cite web |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200606210733.html |title=Ethiopia: AU Launches 2006 As Year of African Languages |access-date=30 October 2016 |date=21 June 2006 |publisher=[[AllAfrica.com]] |archive-date=24 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224234223/http://allafrica.com/stories/200606210733.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Year of African Languages 2">{{cite web |url=http://web.uct.ac.za/depts/praesa/YoAL.htm|archive-url= https://archive.today/20060923084909/http://web.uct.ac.za/depts/praesa/YoAL.htm|url-status= dead |archive-date=23 September 2006 |title=The Year of African Languages (2006) – Plan for the year of African Languages – Executive Summary |access-date=30 September 2006 |author=Project for the Study of Alternative Education in South Africa |year=2006 |publisher=Project for the Study of Alternative Education in South Africa}}</ref> 2006 also marked Ghana's 55th anniversary since it founded the [[Bureau of Ghana Languages]] originally known as [[Bureau of Ghana Languages|Gold Coast Vernacular Literature Bureau]].