#Africa101 is an ongoing series of explainer articles for topics that are essential for understanding the current landscape and trends on the continent.
Photo: 26th African Union Summit, 29 to 31 Jan 2016 (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) (Government ZA/ Flickr)
We’ve discussed African integration before, especially the recent moves the continent has made towards it. But it’s long been an elusive goal. Blocs like the European Union and Mercosur have taken many years to coalesce and provided models for varying levels of international cooperation, but they have not been without their hurdles in development and execution.
With such a diverse group of states, what have been the previous attempts at African integration, and what might the future hold for it?
Past integration efforts
Serious integration efforts date back to the mid 20th century, when decolonization and independence movements fundamentally reshaped the political, economic, and social systems of the continent. There was a wellspring of optimism among newly independent countries, that after years of oppressive and extractive rule, governance and development could finally change for the better.
While integration efforts took various forms, they were largely driven by the goal of promoting political and economic cooperation among African nations. In 1963, the continent took a major step with the founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU). The OAU was the first continental organization for African countries, aimed at promoting cooperation and unity among African nations. The OAU focused on issues such as decolonization, human rights, and the fight against apartheid.
Under the OAU, several key initiatives were launched, including:
The Lagos Plan of Action
Adopted in 1980 by the OAU, the Lagos Plan of Action was a comprehensive plan for African economic development, which aimed to promote economic integration and cooperation among African countries.
However it required governments to opt in, and its concrete achievements remain debatable as as 1991 UNECA paper noted that it “failed to provide for an effective monitoring and follow-up mechanism for its implementation.”
The Abuja Treaty
In 1991, the OAU adopted the Abuja Treaty, which established the African Economic Community (AEC) and set a goal of creating a single African market and economic union by 2028. The treaty was significant because it advocated equality amongst members, as well as “collective self reliance,” observance of legal norms, and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD)
Launched in 2001, NEPAD is a comprehensive development plan for Africa, which aims to promote economic growth and development, and reduce poverty on the continent. It also intends to focus on projects geared towards achieving the goals of Agenda 2063.
From OAU to AU
Shortly after the launch of NEPAD, the OAU received an overhaul itself, and in 2002, the African Union (AU) was born. Replacing the old organization, the AU continues to promote political and economic cooperation among African countries, with a stronger focus on issues such as peace and security, democracy, and development.
While integration efforts of the 20th century were largely driven by the goal of promoting cooperation and unity among African countries, they were hindered by a lack of political will and resources. Today, however, the narrative for the continent appears to be changing.
A single unified trade area?
In March 2018, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) was signed by 44 of the 55 African Union member states. The AfCFTA is an agreement among African countries to create a single market for goods and services, and to eventually establish a customs union. Coming into force in May 2019, the chief goal of the AfCFTA is to increase trade and investment among African countries, as well as to promote economic growth and development on the continent.
The AfCFTA is considered to be the largest free trade area in the world by number of countries. It aims to increase intra-African trade by removing tariffs on goods through successive rounds of negotiations, and gradually eliminating non-tariff barriers, such as quotas and regulations. It also strives to create a single market for goods and services, which would make it easier for businesses to operate across the continent. All told, this would cover an area with an estimated GDP of USD 3.4 trillion.
What does the future hold?
The future of the AfCFTA looks promising, as it has the potential to create new opportunities for businesses and entrepreneurs, increase economic growth and development, and improve the livelihoods of people across the continent.
However, it is important to note that the AfCFTA is a complex process, and it will take time to fully implement. The success of it will depend on the ability of African countries to cooperate and coordinate their efforts, as well as to address the many challenges, obstacles, and no doubt disagreements that will arise along the way.
Binding together such a large, diverse area could have enormous long-term benefits, but member states in the AfCFTA span a far greater spectrum of economic development and bureaucratic capacity than any other comparable trading blocs. There also remains significant skepticism and pushback about the idea of open borders on the continent.
There already is difficulty in harmonizing the different regulatory systems and trade policies of the countries involved. Additionally, there exists an infrastructure and logistics gap in many African countries, which makes it difficult to move goods and services across borders. This doesn’t even take into account the difficulty that Africans can face when trying to cross borders on their own continent.
In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the African economy, which could affect the AfCFTA's implementation and its short-term potential. Despite these challenges, many African countries remain optimistic about the potential benefits of the AfCFTA, and are committed to moving forward with the implementation process.
Final note
While it is easy to point to the many shortcomings of integration efforts, it’s important to keep in mind that the majority of African states have been independent for less than a century. In that time, they have simultaneously developed governments, national identities, and economies. The fact that the process continues to move forward is a reminder of the continent’s strength. And if it is able to execute such integration, we may well see Africa as a significant international player in its own rights in the coming years.