Mixed results for regional economic blocs

Since 1994, when Africa began implementing a treaty to establish a continent-wide economic community, integration has proceeded weakly and irregularly across countries, sectors and regional economic communities. In its first comprehensive assessment of regional integration in Africa, the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), based in Addis-Ababa, reports that the best performing regional economic communities had well-developed integration programmes that were implemented “steadily and effectively by member states.” By contrast those communities affected by political, economic and social upheavals performed poorly, notes the study, Assessing Regional Integration in Africa 2004, released in July.