Introduction

Regional and continental integration constitutes a major development strategy of African countries. The 1980 Lagos Plan of Action, the 1991 the African Economic Treaty and the 2000 Constitutive Act of the African Union adopted by African countries embodied their decision and desire for achievement of continental integration through trade, economic, social and culture spheres. The building blocs for African continental integration comprises the regional economic communities (RECs) established on the basis of their respective constituting treaties. A key feature of regional and continental integration is trade liberalization leading to the formation of regional free trade areas, and progressing towards customs unions and common markets which would then serve as the stepping stone for the formation of a continental African Common Market and Economic Community.

Related Subject(s): International Trade and Finance