African Union - African Diaspora, African Union, African Diaspora African Union - African Diaspora An important and opportune event Invite and encourage the full participation of the African Diaspora as an important part of our Continent, in the building of the African Union The African Union’s draft consensus definition of the African Diaspora considers it as "[consisting] of people of African origin living outside the continent, irrespective of their citizenship and nationality and who are willing to contribute to the development of the continent and the building of the African Union." In a new Article 3 (q), adopted in February 2003, the African Union Constitutive Act declares that the organisation shall "invite and encourage the full participation of the African Diaspora as an important part of our Continent, in the building of the African Union." The African Union has mandated South Africa to present in the first half of 2008 the African Union-African Diaspora Summit at the level of Heads of State and Government. The theme of the Summit is : “Towards the realisation of a united and integrated Africa and its Diaspora : A shared vision for sustainable development to address common challenges.”