Page 45 - Diplomatists Nov

SP E CIAL REPOR T

THE AFRICAN UNION AND REGIONAL

INTEGRATION IN AFRICA

BY MANDIRA BAGWANDEEN*

mproving regional cooperation and integration
Ihas long been a priority for African states and
regional organisations. Following the independence
of African countries, it became evident that African
nations would struggle to attain the economic
development standards of the developed world
if they did not pursue some form of regional
economic integration.
The African Union (AU) aims to create an
“integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa” that
is “driven and managed by its own citizens and
represent[s] a dynamic force in the international
arena.” To achieve this, the AU acknowledges
that for “Africa to unite, political integration alone
is insufficient and needs to be supplemented by

economic integration.” In this regard, it places implementation, and financing. To address
a significant emphasis on Africa’s Regional this issue, the AUC in collaboration with the
Economic Communities (RECs) to drive regional United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
integration in collaboration with the AU. (UNECA) and the African Development Bank
RECs serve as building blocks of the African (AfDB) launched the Africa Regional Integration
Union and aim to facilitate regional economic Index (ARI) in 2016.
integration “between members of the individual A promising development for Africa’s regional
regions and through the wider African Economic integration is the African Continental Free Trade
Community (AEC),” established under the Abuja Agreement (AfCfTA) which came into force in
Treaty (1991). The African Union recognises eight May 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic has amplifi ed
RECs namely: the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA); the importance of ensuring that the AfCFTA is a
the Common Market for Eastern and Southern successful venture. The disruption of global supply
Africa (COMESA); the Community of Sahel- chains as a result of the pandemic has reinforced
Saharan States (CEN-SAD); the East African the need for deeper integration amongst African
Community (EAC); the Economic Community of states to enable “mutual self-sufficiency, the
Central African States (ECCAS); the Economic [strengthening] of economies, and a [decreasing]
Community of West African States (ECOWAS); dependence on [international markets].” In this
the Intergovernmental Authority on Development regard, it will be interesting to observe how the
(IGAD); and, the Southern African Development AU and RECs will work towards ensuring that
Community (SADC). the AfCFTA promotes closer integration amongst
The AU has acknowledged that plans developed African states and, subsequently, improves intra-
over the years to enhance cooperation and African trade and economic development.
regional integration on the continent have not
met expectations due to several reasons. The * Author is a PhD candidate at the University
most salient of which is a lack of monitoring and of Cape Town, in South Africa, and a Research
evaluation tools that make it possible to track Associate at the Fondation pour la recherche

actions and efforts by RECs and identify gaps and stratégique (Foundation for Strategic Research),
corrective measures in terms of programming, a think tank in France.

Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 8 • Issue 9 • November 2020, Noida • 45