WHAT ARE THE ECONOMIC BLOCS OF AFRICA? - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The economic blocs in Africa are mainly the Community of East Africa (CEA), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Development Community of Southern Africa (SADC).

However, there are other economic communities and integration organizations such as the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA), the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD), the Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC).

Also part of these African blocs: the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD), a body that supports integration and cooperation.

In October 2008, the three economic blocs agreed to promote the establishment of a single bloc for free trade and customs union, but this objective has not yet been achieved.

This unified bloc would go from South Africa to Egypt and from Kenya to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The economic blocs, together with the integration organizations, are made up of the 55 countries that make up the African Union (AU).

They were created due to the need to expand common markets and guarantee peace and stability in the region.

Economic blocks and integration organizations

CEA - East African Community

The EAC was originally founded in 1967 but ten years later it was dissolved and relaunched in 1999 with the signing of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community (Treaty that created the CAO).

Initially, it was created with the participation of Kenya, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania. Then in 2007 Burundi and Rwanda joined, while South Sudan was incorporated in 2016.

The member states established an economic cooperation agreement and laid the foundations for achieving greater political, economic and social integration.

Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)

This market was created in December 1994 with the aim of replacing the old Preferred Trade Zone (PTA) founded in the early 1980s in Eastern and Southern Africa.

COMESA is an organization for the cooperation and development of human and natural resources of its members, all sovereign and free states.

Its primary objective has been focused on achieving the creation of a large economic and commercial unit, in order to overcome the trade barriers faced individually by each of the member states.

Member countries: Zambia, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Swaziland, Seychelles, Burundi, Comoros, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti, Libya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Rwanda, Malawi and Sudan.

Southern African Development Community (SADC)

It was created in April 1992 with the signing of the SADC Treaty, which transformed the Southern Africa Coordination Conference (SADCC) into SADC to deepen the integration and cooperation processes.

The signatory countries also signed the Declaration "Towards a Southern African Development Community", which clearly defined the SADC Common Agenda.

Member countries: Angola, South Africa, Swaziland, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Seychelles, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Arab Maghreb Union (AMU)

It was created in February 1989 in Marrakech by the heads of state of Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Libya and Mauritania, after a meeting held a year earlier in Algiers. The AMU arises after the approval of the Treaty establishes the Arab Maghreb Union.

The member states agreed to coordinate, harmonize and rationalize their policies and strategies in order to achieve sustainable development in all sectors of human activities.

Community of Sahelo - Saharan States (CEN-SAD)

This community was established on February 4, 1998, after the Conference of Leaders and Heads of State was held in Tripoli, Libya.

Later, in July 2000, CEN-SAD became a regional economic bloc, during the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity, held in Lomé, Togo.

The EEC immediately signed cooperation agreements in the economic, political, cultural and social fields.

Member countries: Chad, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Comoros, Ivory Coast, Djibouti, Egypt, Gambia, Ghana, Sudan, Guinea-Bissau, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Sierra Leone, Morocco, Niger, Tunisia, Nigeria, Eritrea, Senegal, Somalia, Benin and Togo.

Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC)

It was created in October 1883, by the signatory countries of the Customs and Economic Union of Central African States (UDEAC), São Tomé and Príncipe and the members of the Economic Community of the Countries of the Great Lakes, Burundi, Zaire and Rwanda.

These countries agreed to promote a broader economic community of Central African States. It was inactive for some years due to financial constraints, conflicts in the Great Lakes region and the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

However, in October 1999 it was reactivated and ECCAS was formally designated as the African Economic Community and one of the eight pillars of the African Union.

Member countries: Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, Rwanda, Gabon, and São Tomé and Príncipe.

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

It was then created with the signing of the Treaty of Lagos signed by fifteen West African Heads of State and Government on May 28, 1975.

This treaty was initially limited to economic cooperation, but later in 1993 other areas were incorporated into cooperation.

In 1976 Cape Verde joined ECOWAS and in 2000 Mauritania decided to withdraw to join the Arab Maghreb Union.

ECOWAS has a vision to promote integration and cooperation for the establishment of an Economic Union in West Africa.

Its objective is to improve the standard of living of the population, achieve economic stability, foster good relations between the member states and contribute to the progress and development of the African continent.

Member countries: Niger, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Benin, Togo, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria and Senegal.

Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD)

This body was created in 1996 to replace the Intergovernmental Authority on Drought and Development founded in 1986. IGAD changed its name, organizational structure and objectives to achieve expanded cooperation among its members.

Its primary mission is to promote and fulfill the objectives of COMESA and the African Economic Community.

Also to help and complement the efforts of member states in the areas of food security, cooperation and economic integration. Like the protection of the environment and the promotion of peace and security in the region.

References

1. Kayizzi-Mugerwa, Steve: The African Economy: Policy, Institutions and the Future. Routledge, 1999. Recovered from books.google.co.ve
2. The three African economic blocs, EAC, COMESA and SADC, agree to join in just one in six months. Consulted of africafundacion.org
3. The Regional Economic Communities (RECs) of the African Union. Consulted of un.org
4. Regional Economic Communities. Consulted of uneca.org
5. Community of Sahel-Saharan States. Consulted of reingex.com
6. African Union. Consulted of es.wikipedia.org