The Challenges of Regional Integration in the East Africa Community

  • Patricia Mukiri Mwithiga
Chapter

Abstract

Regional integration refers to the process of states coming together to sign agreements where they agree to cooperate in certain areas common to them. This process is overseen by the governments of the specific states. Regional cooperation can take different forms which depend on the objectives of the states that are involved.1 States may want to come together for economic reasons or even further to form a political alliance or union. History shows that many states across the globe enter into regional agreements for economic purposes. In Africa in particular, there has been a clamor and trend towards integration with numerous regional blocs being formed in various regions of the continent. The Africa Union recognizes seven Regional Economic Communities (REC namely: (i) Arab Maghreb Union (AMU), (ii) Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), (iii) Community for Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD), (iv) East Africa Community (EAC), (v) Economic Community of Central Africa States (ECCAS), (vi) Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and (vii) Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Keywords

development East African Community political federation regional integration 
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© Patricia Mukiri Mwithiga 2015

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  • Patricia Mukiri Mwithiga

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