Best practices in regional integration in Africa

Abstract

Regional integration remains a key strategy for advancing Africa’s socio-economic endeavours. Regional integration, which refers to the unification of nation States, provides the countries with large economies of scale, increased levels of investment and trade, and maximizes economic welfare. Mindful of these benefits, numerous Regional Economic Communities (RECs)1 have been formed, and recent times have witnessed an increased level of political will and commitment to the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community (AEC) also referred to as the “Abuja Treaty”.