REGIONAL INTEGRATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA: AFRICAN UNION IN PERSPECTIVE

Abdulrahman Adamu&Isah Balarabe

ABSTRACT

The attainment of independence by many African states necessitated the adoption of regional integration initiative as a means of enhancing socio-economic development in the region.Regrettably, after many decades of regional integration efforts, Africans appear not to have benefited significantly from that initiative. The paper examined the regional integration and economic development in Africa with particular reference to the role of the African Union (AU). Methodologically, it uses the qualitative method of research through the use of journals, textbooks, and newspapers as means of data collection.The paper reveals that there are a number of issues confronting African States,which if not addressed, economic development and regional integration in the region would continue to be elusive. Such issues include illegal importation, poverty, corruption, unemployment, low standard of living, terrorism and insurgency, political crisis and ethnic rivalries as well as Xenophobia. Theoretically, the paper uses the economic integration theory in the analysis of the issues and challenges bedevilling regional integration on the African continent. It concludes that, the regional economic integration initiative of African States has not really achieved much, owing to the fact that the region fails to harness the continent’s resources religiously so as to have a common market and free business environment for Africans. The paper recommends that, to achieve a viable economic development and regional integration in Africa, there is every need for the continent to go back to the drawing board to prepare a realistic framework of implementation and corporation in tackling political challenges facing the continent. It is by so doing that economic integration and development can be actualized.

Keywords: Regional Integration, Economic Integration, Development, Economic Development, African Union