Regional Integration in Africa: Challenges and Prospects

RUNNING HEAD: Law
11/24/2018

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INTRODUCTION
This paper is to evaluate the progress of Africa towards regional integration, analyzing a
number of obstacles they have encountered. The regional integration in Africa as described
further and by putting stress on the economic and political profits that likely to happen from
thereof. A brief assessment of the Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)
with European Union portrayed, as an exemplar for the African Union. COMESA formed right
after Preferential Trade Area1. Moreover, it was to assist as an organization of such states, which
are not only free and independent but also sovereign. The states, which will cooperate and agree
on reducing the trade barriers for different nations to conserve and make judicious use of their
natural resources for the good of all of its citizens. It has been focusing mainly on overcoming all
the hurdles, handled by individual states. Its main aim is to promote priorities towards
sustainable economic development.
The discussion in this paper is to do the comparative study between the African and the
European Union and up until what extent the African Union has been successful in its regional
integration. In addition, the conclusion is regarding the integration of economies and measures to
increase trade with other nations worldwide. Moreover, the changes required and that influence
the markets as per the different schemes explained below. This report/paper investigates the link
used in theory and empirical literature reviews2. This paper highlights that the trade intra-Africa
1 Sonja Nita, 'Regional Free Movement Of People: The Case Of African Regional Economic Communities' (2013) 3
Regions and Cohesions.
2 'COMESA | African Union' (Au.int, 2018) <https://au.int/en/recs/comesa> accessed 29 November 2018.

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is still not high, despite there are number of different trading blocs for regional trade. High
Scarcity rates in context to poverty, the comparison and the differences between the AU and EU.
INTRODUCTION OF AFRICAN UNION AND EUROPEAN UNION
African Union is one of the most important and an intergovernmental organization, which
comprises of 55 other African States whereas the European Union is a combination of 28
European States. African Union’s main aim is to maintain and balance security and peace among
the states so that states maintain the stability, on the other hand, European Union aims at good
services and free movement of people and capital internally. Both the unions spark with the
concept of unity. In modern Africa, Libyan president Muammar El Gaddafi and in Europe
Winston Churchill have strong visions of making United States of Africa and a federal EU
respectively. The federation knowledge was, however; fell for a more functionalist method for
integration. This idea and theory, incorporated by Ernst B. Haas, believed that integration
initially starts with technical and noncontroversial sectors3. The AU and the EU have amazingly
similar features. The AU guidelines were made as per the EU only. With only some fewer
exceptions, else AU is exactly similar and same as a mirror image. The African Court of Justice
(ACJ) in 2006 combined with the Peoples ‘Civil liberties in African court to form the Court of
Human Rights and Justice in Africa in short ACJ & HR. For emphasizing on similarities,
institutional order is not important.
OBJECTIVES OF COMESA
COMESA aims at maintaining a balance and a level of equality between the member
states. It has a goal of building a fiduciary relationship and solidarity between the member states.
3 'Overview – COMESA SUMMIT 2018' (Comesasummit2018.org, 2018<https://comesasummit2018.org/overview-
2/> accessed 29 November 2018.

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Along with this harmony should be maintained in between the members in writing and
explaining all the policies and programs relating to the integration of different regions. So that no
aggression and chaos be there in between the member states. The COMESA targeted at one thing
very important that is the protection of the rights of people and gives their right’s proper
recognition in order to promote them in an agreement with the African Charter on Human and
People's Rights4. To ask for more participation of public for development programs as well. To
make sure that each state who is a member should be following all the democratic rules and
regulations. COMESA is an organization, which collaborates in all the economic and social
sectors5. However, because of resources Limitations, the application of activities/programs
arranged to parts where there can be effects done. Following are the five priorities for the next
coming years:-
1. Target is to maintain the consequences for years i.e., a rise in productivity in industries,
dispensation, manufacturing, and agro-based industries.
2. To provide reasonable goods for cross-border trade and
3. To increase in wealth and creation of jobs opportunities.
4. With a special focus on the joint development of rivers and lake to reduce dependence on
rain-fed cultivation and new points on food security at the district levels, national and local
levels; development of conveyance and infrastructures services with special stress on connecting
the rural areas. In addition, African and European Union accept it quite well.
4 Alemayehu , Haile Geda , Kebret, 'Regional Economic Integration In Africa: A Review Of Problems And Prospects
With A Case Study Of COMESA' (2008) 17 Journal of African Economies.
5 Christopher B. Barrett, 'Smallholder Market Participation: Concepts And Evidence From Eastern And Southern
Africa' (2008) 33 Food Policy.