AN X-RAY OF REGIONAL ECONOMIC INTEGRATION IN AFRICA: THE PAST, THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE

The concept of economic integration in Africa has evolved since the inception of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now known as the African Union (AU). Despite some observable improvements in economic growth in recent years, the continent's progress towards inclusive economic integration remains hindered by ineffective policies, including overlapping membership of sub-regional economic blocs, delayed implementation of plans of action, among others. To address this, a continent-wide policy promoting the creation of a single market and facilitating the free movement of goods and people has become imperative. This culminated in the adoption of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement in 2018. However, realising the objectives of Agenda 2063 for socio-economic transformation requires a thorough examination of past, present, and future economic integration efforts. This paper assesses the journey of economic integration in Africa, aiming to identify and address the challenges hindering its realisation. Through an analysis of integration obstacles and the possibilities presented by initiatives such as the AfCFTA and regional economic communities, this research contends that the linear economic integration model embraced by AU member states has progressed slowly in execution. This model not only fails to deliver the advantages of a unified market but also prevents the continent from fully realising the benefits of comprehensive economic integration. Therefore, the adoption of coordinated economic policies, beyond building a common market, aimed at promoting the collective welfare of the continent's populace as seen in the viable EU approach is a sine qua non to sustainable economic integration on the continent. Similarly, addressing the overlapping membership of sub-regional economic communities and blocs with far-reaching implications on the implementation of AfCFTA goals is an imperative.