The African Union Continental Free Trade Area: Challenges and Prospects

Nwaodu Nnamdi Okechukwu; Ijeoma Edwin Okechukwu Chikata

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijsdr.20180402.14

| Peer-Reviewed

The African Union Continental Free Trade Area: Challenges and Prospects

Nwaodu Nnamdi Okechukwu, Ijeoma Edwin Okechukwu Chikata

Published in International Journal of Sustainable Development Research (Volume 4, Issue 2)

Received: 11 December 2017 Accepted: 8 April 2018 Published: 27 September 2018

Views: Downloads:

Download PDF

Share This Article

Twitter
Linked In
Facebook

Abstract

One of the bitter legacies of colonialism in Africa is the creation of small unit states which reduced the singular and collective competitiveness of the states and the continent respectively in global economic and political affairs. It has therefore been the resolve of African leaders to pursue some forms regional integration in order to overcome the challenges. Consequently, from the pre-independence pan-Africanist philosophy, to the Organization of African Unity, OAU and today the African Union, this fundamental goal of building integration mechanisms has remained prevalent at the regional and sub-regional levels, leading to the desire to establish integration schemes for customs’ union, economic community, common currency, central bank and one parliament, and most currently that of the Free Trade Area in the Continent. This article sought to unpack some of the challenges of regional integration in general and those facing the AU’s continent-wide Free Trade Area and found that, though efforts towards regional integration in Africa have recorded some achievements including positive economic growth, they still fall short of achieving most of its laudable objectives especially in the face of such challenges ranging from over-ambitious targets, to the heterogeneity of the economies of members, among others. For effective regional integration in Africa, AU should basically resolve the identified knotty challenges that have frustrated a possible beneficial intra-regional trade which could subsequently lead to regional integration in Africa without which the drive for collective self-reliant development for Africa will always turn into a mirage, deepening the region’s dependence on the western powers.

Published in	International Journal of Sustainable Development Research (Volume 4, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijsdr.20180402.14
Page(s)	36-43
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2018. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Regional Integration, African Union (AU), Free Trade Area

References

[1]	O. N. Nwaodu. The African Union and the Question of Development in Africa, Owerri, Mega Atlas Ltd. 2010.
[2]	R. I. Onwuka. “The Anguish of Dependent Regionalism in Africa”, Inaugural Lecture delivered at Obafemi Awolowo University, on January, 1988, Ile-Ife, Obafemi Awolowo Press Limited. 1991.
[3]	E. O. C. Ijeoma and O. N. Nwaodu. Eds. Third World Development Strategies: Decades of Fascination and Frustration, Pretoria, 2013.
[4]	E. B. Haas. The Uniting for Europe, Social and Economic Forces, 1950-1957, Stanford University Press.1968.
[5]	J. Mapuva and Muyengwa-Mapuva. The SADC regional bloc: What challenges and prospects for regional integration, Cape Town, Law, Democracy & Development. 2014.
[6]	R. Leach. Europe: A concise Encyclopedia of the European Union. 4thed., London, Profiles Books Ltd. 2004:87.
[7]	F. McDonald. Market Integration in the European Union, in McDonald, F. and Dearden S. (eds.), European Economic Integration, England, Pearson Educational Limited.1999.
[8]	I. Mclean and A. Macmillan, (Eds,) The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Politics, Oxford University Press.2003.
[9]	African Union. Southern African Development Community (SADC), Addis Ababa, the African Union Commission, accessedon18, October, 2017, www.sadc.int.2011.
[10]	C. O. Lercheand A. A. Said. Concepts of International Politics in Global Perspective 3rded. Prentice-HallInc, Eaglewood Cliff. 1979.
[11]	African Union. Third Meeting of the African Facility Joint Coordination Committee, Joint Communiqué, African Union Commission, Addis Ababa, 2006.
[12]	K, Mammo & P, Draper. "South African international trade diplomacy: Implications for regional integration" at 37.2006.
[13]	Tralac."Memberships in multiple regional trading agreements: Legal implications for the conduct of trade negotiations" (2003) Tralac. 2017. Available at www.tralac.org/scripts/contnent.php?=1914
[14]	Mail & Guardian Online Network: (In a separate analysis of the extant situation,12 June, 2012.
[15]	S. K. Tadelle. The Role of Civil Society in African Regional Integration. 2016. Accessed on 24 March 2017 at: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/role-civil-society-african-regional-integration-seife-tadelle-hon-
[16]	T. Hartzenberg. Staff Working Paper, ERSD-2011-14.2011. Regional integration in Africa. 2011.
[17]	United Nations. Assessing Regional Integration in Africa V: Towards an African Continental Free Trade Area. UNECA. Org Publications. 2010.
[18]	C. K. Regional Integration is a must for Africa. Kenya Reuters: World Economic Forum. 2013.
[19]	M. Retting, A. W. Kamau, and A. S. Muluvi. The African Union Can Do More to Support Regional Integration. Washington DC: The Brooking Institution. 2013.
[20]	Schott. Korea-U.S Free Trade Revisited. Peterson institute for International Economics. 2001.

Cite This Article

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Nwaodu Nnamdi Okechukwu, Ijeoma Edwin Okechukwu Chikata. (2018). The African Union Continental Free Trade Area: Challenges and Prospects. International Journal of Sustainable Development Research, 4(2), 36-43. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsdr.20180402.14

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Nwaodu Nnamdi Okechukwu; Ijeoma Edwin Okechukwu Chikata. The African Union Continental Free Trade Area: Challenges and Prospects. Int. J. Sustain. Dev. Res. 2018, 4(2), 36-43. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsdr.20180402.14

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Nwaodu Nnamdi Okechukwu, Ijeoma Edwin Okechukwu Chikata. The African Union Continental Free Trade Area: Challenges and Prospects. Int J Sustain Dev Res. 2018;4(2):36-43. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsdr.20180402.14

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijsdr.20180402.14,
  author = {Nwaodu Nnamdi Okechukwu and Ijeoma Edwin Okechukwu Chikata},
  title = {The African Union Continental Free Trade Area: Challenges and Prospects},
  journal = {International Journal of Sustainable Development Research},
  volume = {4},
  number = {2},
  pages = {36-43},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijsdr.20180402.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsdr.20180402.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijsdr.20180402.14},
  abstract = {One of the bitter legacies of colonialism in Africa is the creation of small unit states which reduced the singular and collective competitiveness of the states and the continent respectively in global economic and political affairs. It has therefore been the resolve of African leaders to pursue some forms regional integration in order to overcome the challenges. Consequently, from the pre-independence pan-Africanist philosophy, to the Organization of African Unity, OAU and today the African Union, this fundamental goal of building integration mechanisms has remained prevalent at the regional and sub-regional levels, leading to the desire to establish integration schemes for customs’ union, economic community, common currency, central bank and one parliament, and most currently that of the Free Trade Area in the Continent. This article sought to unpack some of the challenges of regional integration in general and those facing the AU’s continent-wide Free Trade Area and found that, though efforts towards regional integration in Africa have recorded some achievements including positive economic growth, they still fall short of achieving most of its laudable objectives especially in the face of such challenges ranging from over-ambitious targets, to the heterogeneity of the economies of members, among others. For effective regional integration in Africa, AU should basically resolve the identified knotty challenges that have frustrated a possible beneficial intra-regional trade which could subsequently lead to regional integration in Africa without which the drive for collective self-reliant development for Africa will always turn into a mirage, deepening the region’s dependence on the western powers.},
 year = {2018}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - The African Union Continental Free Trade Area: Challenges and Prospects
AU  - Nwaodu Nnamdi Okechukwu
AU  - Ijeoma Edwin Okechukwu Chikata
Y1  - 2018/09/27
PY  - 2018
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsdr.20180402.14
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijsdr.20180402.14
T2  - International Journal of Sustainable Development Research
JF  - International Journal of Sustainable Development Research
JO  - International Journal of Sustainable Development Research
SP  - 36
EP  - 43
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-1832
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsdr.20180402.14
AB  - One of the bitter legacies of colonialism in Africa is the creation of small unit states which reduced the singular and collective competitiveness of the states and the continent respectively in global economic and political affairs. It has therefore been the resolve of African leaders to pursue some forms regional integration in order to overcome the challenges. Consequently, from the pre-independence pan-Africanist philosophy, to the Organization of African Unity, OAU and today the African Union, this fundamental goal of building integration mechanisms has remained prevalent at the regional and sub-regional levels, leading to the desire to establish integration schemes for customs’ union, economic community, common currency, central bank and one parliament, and most currently that of the Free Trade Area in the Continent. This article sought to unpack some of the challenges of regional integration in general and those facing the AU’s continent-wide Free Trade Area and found that, though efforts towards regional integration in Africa have recorded some achievements including positive economic growth, they still fall short of achieving most of its laudable objectives especially in the face of such challenges ranging from over-ambitious targets, to the heterogeneity of the economies of members, among others. For effective regional integration in Africa, AU should basically resolve the identified knotty challenges that have frustrated a possible beneficial intra-regional trade which could subsequently lead to regional integration in Africa without which the drive for collective self-reliant development for Africa will always turn into a mirage, deepening the region’s dependence on the western powers.
VL  - 4
IS  - 2
ER  -

Copy | Download

Author Information

Nwaodu Nnamdi Okechukwu

Department of Public Administration, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa
Ijeoma Edwin Okechukwu Chikata

Department of Public Administration, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa

Download PDF

Sections

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Nwaodu Nnamdi Okechukwu, Ijeoma Edwin Okechukwu Chikata. (2018). The African Union Continental Free Trade Area: Challenges and Prospects. International Journal of Sustainable Development Research, 4(2), 36-43. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsdr.20180402.14

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Nwaodu Nnamdi Okechukwu; Ijeoma Edwin Okechukwu Chikata. The African Union Continental Free Trade Area: Challenges and Prospects. Int. J. Sustain. Dev. Res. 2018, 4(2), 36-43. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsdr.20180402.14

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Nwaodu Nnamdi Okechukwu, Ijeoma Edwin Okechukwu Chikata. The African Union Continental Free Trade Area: Challenges and Prospects. Int J Sustain Dev Res. 2018;4(2):36-43. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsdr.20180402.14

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijsdr.20180402.14,
  author = {Nwaodu Nnamdi Okechukwu and Ijeoma Edwin Okechukwu Chikata},
  title = {The African Union Continental Free Trade Area: Challenges and Prospects},
  journal = {International Journal of Sustainable Development Research},
  volume = {4},
  number = {2},
  pages = {36-43},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijsdr.20180402.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsdr.20180402.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijsdr.20180402.14},
  abstract = {One of the bitter legacies of colonialism in Africa is the creation of small unit states which reduced the singular and collective competitiveness of the states and the continent respectively in global economic and political affairs. It has therefore been the resolve of African leaders to pursue some forms regional integration in order to overcome the challenges. Consequently, from the pre-independence pan-Africanist philosophy, to the Organization of African Unity, OAU and today the African Union, this fundamental goal of building integration mechanisms has remained prevalent at the regional and sub-regional levels, leading to the desire to establish integration schemes for customs’ union, economic community, common currency, central bank and one parliament, and most currently that of the Free Trade Area in the Continent. This article sought to unpack some of the challenges of regional integration in general and those facing the AU’s continent-wide Free Trade Area and found that, though efforts towards regional integration in Africa have recorded some achievements including positive economic growth, they still fall short of achieving most of its laudable objectives especially in the face of such challenges ranging from over-ambitious targets, to the heterogeneity of the economies of members, among others. For effective regional integration in Africa, AU should basically resolve the identified knotty challenges that have frustrated a possible beneficial intra-regional trade which could subsequently lead to regional integration in Africa without which the drive for collective self-reliant development for Africa will always turn into a mirage, deepening the region’s dependence on the western powers.},
 year = {2018}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - The African Union Continental Free Trade Area: Challenges and Prospects
AU  - Nwaodu Nnamdi Okechukwu
AU  - Ijeoma Edwin Okechukwu Chikata
Y1  - 2018/09/27
PY  - 2018
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsdr.20180402.14
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijsdr.20180402.14
T2  - International Journal of Sustainable Development Research
JF  - International Journal of Sustainable Development Research
JO  - International Journal of Sustainable Development Research
SP  - 36
EP  - 43
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-1832
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsdr.20180402.14
AB  - One of the bitter legacies of colonialism in Africa is the creation of small unit states which reduced the singular and collective competitiveness of the states and the continent respectively in global economic and political affairs. It has therefore been the resolve of African leaders to pursue some forms regional integration in order to overcome the challenges. Consequently, from the pre-independence pan-Africanist philosophy, to the Organization of African Unity, OAU and today the African Union, this fundamental goal of building integration mechanisms has remained prevalent at the regional and sub-regional levels, leading to the desire to establish integration schemes for customs’ union, economic community, common currency, central bank and one parliament, and most currently that of the Free Trade Area in the Continent. This article sought to unpack some of the challenges of regional integration in general and those facing the AU’s continent-wide Free Trade Area and found that, though efforts towards regional integration in Africa have recorded some achievements including positive economic growth, they still fall short of achieving most of its laudable objectives especially in the face of such challenges ranging from over-ambitious targets, to the heterogeneity of the economies of members, among others. For effective regional integration in Africa, AU should basically resolve the identified knotty challenges that have frustrated a possible beneficial intra-regional trade which could subsequently lead to regional integration in Africa without which the drive for collective self-reliant development for Africa will always turn into a mirage, deepening the region’s dependence on the western powers.
VL  - 4
IS  - 2
ER  -

Copy | Download