Introduction Human security is a key concept in the modern political arena. For some it may be that the best way to describe human security is to refer to it as ongoing human development (Naidoo 2001:7). Booth explains that sometimes it is the very state in which people live that poses a threat to their security, rather than other states waging wars and creating conflicts (as cited by Naidoo 2001:2). This leads to states being tested in terms of their effectiveness and adequacy in meeting the needs of their populations to ensure their security, whether it is a matter of life and death or development and provision (Naidoo 2001:2 ) Tieku (2007) links the term, human security, with the institution, the African Union. The African Union (AU) was formally launched on 26 May 2001 (Tieku 2007: 27). The AU is a regional organization that has several functions (which we will discuss later), including human security (Turner 2013:58). Tieku (2007:27) focuses on how the African Union places human security on its agenda and improves human security across Africa. Tieku (2007:27) also examines the effect and importance of Pan-Africanism and leadership within the AU on human security. Research topic and main theoretical perspective This article by Tieku (2007:26) focuses on human security. Human security revolves around the safety of human beings and the safeguarding of their communities, focusing on protecting them and not so much the state in which they live (Tieku 2007:27). It is the idea of ​​security, centered on humanity, that is placed above any other concept of security (Bajpai 2013:1). The research topic is the main declared "problem" that is addressed and explored, as described by Leedy & Ormrod (2014:31) as the heart of the research...... half of the article...... J. Pretoria, South Africa: Institute for Security Studies.Obasanjo, O. 1988. Africa in Today's World. Africa in today's world and the challenges of leadership, edited by Obasanjo, O. & Babangida, IB Nigeria: Ota.Oxfam. 2012. African Union Compendium. Internet: http://www.slashdocs.com/nvrnn/african-union-compendium-oxfam-international-july-2012.html. Accessed: 5 April 2014. Payne, R. A. 2004. Human Security and American Foreign Policy. Human Security in the New Millennium, (March): 1-22. Saheed, A. 2001. Blackpast.org. Internet: http://www.blackpast.org/perspectives/pan-african-congresses-1900-1945. Accessed: 4 April 2014. Tieku, K.T. 2007. Promotion of human security in Africa by the African Union. African Security Review, 16.2: 26-37.Turnbull, J. 2010. Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary: International Student's Edition. New York: Oxford University Press.