The Organisation of African Unity (OAL) with a membership of 51 independent states is the largest regional body in the international arena. Accounting for nearby one-third of the numerical strength of the United Nations and more than half of the non-aligned movement, OAU as a pressure group has been commanding a lot of respect and is considered a political force to be reckoned with. To an ordinary African, OAU, now about two decades old, means a lot. For the OAU charter says that it aims at promoting African Unity, eradicating colonialism and recialism from the face of the continent and bringing international co-operation among the African states. Moreover, the way it has been projecting the African personality in world affairs has made every African raise his head in pride. But Africa is so vast and diverse. It was partitioned off by major colonial power-Britain, France and Portugal in such an arbitrary manner the some national and international boundaries in the continent are unnatural and even illogical. No wonder so many border disputes keep cropping up. Apart from the border disputes, OAU had to face a number of bilateral and multilateral issues. Some controversial issues it was called upon to handle were the Arab-Israel war; the Biafran war of secession in Nigeria; the role of mercenaries in Zaire, Senegal and other African countries; the civil war in Angola, the Somalia, Ethiopia war and the still unsettled development in Chad. Frankly speaking, the 19 year old history of the OAU has been a chequered one, even crisis-ridden. But it must be said to the credit of African spirit of compromise and resilience that it has continued to exist. It is often said in all seriousness that the biggest success of the OAU is that it is that it is still alive.