THE PROBLEMS OF REGIONAL INTEGRATION IN AFRICA: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SADC AND ECOWAS

ABSTRACT

This study delves into the problems of regional integration in Africa by conducting a comparative analysis of two regional bodies, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), using the theoretical framework of Dependency Theory. The research questions used are: 1) What is the contribution of SADC and ECOWAS to the development of member states? 2) What are the challenges faced by SADC and ECOWAS in carrying out development? and 3) What measures have been put in place by SADC and ECOWAS to ensure a stronger regional integration?

The study employs a quantitative research method, utilizing data from secondary sources. Findings from the study reveal that while SADC and ECOWAS have contributed to the development of member states in various ways, they face several challenges such as limited resources, weak institutional frameworks, and political instability.

The study also identifies measures put in place by both regional bodies to overcome these challenges and achieve stronger regional integration.
Overall, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of the problems facing regional integration in Africa, with a focus on SADC and ECOWAS. It highlights the importance of understanding the challenges and opportunities in regional integration and offers insights into measures that can be taken to overcome them.

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of Study

African decision-makers have long recognized the value of regional economic cooperation and integration as a way to hasten and consolidate economic and social development (Lebaleet al, 2009). African governments began to embrace regional integration during the post-independence era, initially primarily for political reasons and later as a development strategy to overcome obstacles like small markets and being landlocked as well as to take advantage of economies of scale in trade and production. African regional economic integration is now necessary due to the multipolar world that exists today and Africa’s risk of further marginalization at the hands of trading blocs in North America, Europe, South-East Asia, and China (Madyo, 2008 Haile, 2002).

Regional integration, according to Lebale et al. (2009), may result in, among other things, resource pooling and expanded local markets that will encourage production, trade, and investment. Second, the intensification of intra-African trade presents one development strategy for trade diversification given how the current financial and economic crisis is affecting African economies through declines in Official Development Assistance (ODA), imports, and investments.

There are currently no countries in Africa that are not members of at least one regional economic group due to the numerous regional integration agreements that African States have entered into (Alemayehu and Examples of regional integration arrangements currently in place in Africa include the East African Community (EAC) in East Africa, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in West Africa, the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) in Central Africa, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) in Southern and Eastern Africa.

A continental effort to foster economic cooperation (and ultimately significant economic integration) among African nations has been made in addition to regional agreements (Alemayehu and Haile, 2004). Hatzernberg (2011) asserts that the Lagos Plan of Action’s justification was the desire of African leaders to integrate Africa (LPA). The Organization of African Unity’s initiative was approved by the Heads of State in April 1980. The plan aimed to lessen Africa’s reliance on Western nations and increase its level of self-sufficiency. The 1991 signing of the Abuja Treaty served as the catalyst for the African integration agenda.

African unity, independence, and an endogenous development strategy through industrialization were stressed in this treaty. Since the agreement’s implementation in 1994, significant efforts have been made to achieve regional integration in Africa. These efforts are primarily focused on boosting trade between African nations in order to reduce poverty, generate jobs, raise per capita incomes, and improve the general standard of living of African countries. However, despite these efforts, Africa’s Regional Economic Communities (RECs) have not been able to fully accomplish their intended goal.

The Economic Community of West African States and the Southern African Development Community are two of the five main regional pillars of the African Economic Community. All these regional pillars were established to promote economic integration among their members. SADC was launched in 1992 even though most of the members
previously belonged to the Southern African Development Coordination Conference  that had been established in 1980.

 The members of the SADC are Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The SADC zone is dominated by the Services sector, contributing about 51% of GDP between the years 2000 to 2010 as reported in World Development Indicators. The industry sector contributes 32% whereas the Agricultural sector contributes 17% over the same period. ECOWAS was started in 1975 with the countries Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Niger. Cape Verde joined the union two years afterward in 1977.

Even though it is hard to find an estimate of the sectoral contributions of ECOWAS members, there used to be a huge agricultural sector before the early 2000s, but there seems to be more heterogeneity of products and services in the recent past and it is quite unclear which sectors drive growth in the region without proper research investigation.

1.2 Statement of Problem

Regional integration is a tool that can be used for the economic, political, and social development of countries. Due to their enormous benefits in promoting development, regional integration agreements are being used by nations all over the world. In developed nations, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) have achieved notable successes in regional integration, as shown by the growth in intra-regional trade and the ensuing acceleration of economic growth and development, as in the case of the European Union (EU) and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). Although less so than the RECs in Europe and Asia, the African organizations ECOWAS and SADC have made significant contributions to the political, social, and economic development of their member states. The continent’s prospects for economic growth and the eradication of poverty rest largely upon regional integration as evidenced by the African Union’s goal of establishing an African Economic Community by 2028, yet current regional integration arrangements have not yet fully succeeded in achieving this goal.

There is thus a need for an analysis to be done on the challenges and opportunities of regional integration within Africa in order for African RECs to obtain the best from regional integration. Chingono and Nakana (2008) claim that the African Union has identified economic cooperation as the engine to propel African development and regional economic communities such as SADC and ECOWAS, as pillars for continental integration and development.

Against this assertion, it is crucial to analyze the challenges and prospects presented by SADC in comparison with ECOWAS integration in order for appropriate action to be taken to obtain the best out of regional integration, not only in Southern Africa but in Africa as a whole. Regional economic communities like SADC serve as pillars for continental integration and development, and integration serves as the catalyst for African development. In order to take the proper action to get the most out of regional integration, not just in Southern Africa but in all of Africa, it is critical to analyze the challenges and opportunities presented by SADC integration.

From the foregoing, the following research questions are raised

Main Research Question