Regional Economic Communities (RECs) | African Union

Overview

• Regional Economic Communities (RECs): Groupings of African states for economic integration.
• Purpose: Facilitate regional economic integration and contribute to African Economic Community (AEC).
• Foundation: Based on 1980 Lagos Plan of Action and Abuja Treaty (1991).
• Role: Coordinate AU Member States' interests in peace, security, development, and governance.

Relationship with the AU

• Integration: RECs serve as building blocks for the African Union (AU).
• Framework: Guided by the 2008 Protocol on Relations and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for peace and security.

Recognized RECs

1. Arab Maghreb Union (UMA)
2. Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)
3. Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CENSAD)
4. East African Community (EAC)
5. Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS)
6. Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
7. Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)
8. Southern African Development Community (SADC)

Additional Liaison Offices

• Eastern Africa Standby Force Coordination Mechanism (EASFCOM)
• North African Regional Capability (NARC)

Coordination Framework

Committee on Coordination

• Functions: Policy advice, implementation oversight, and progress monitoring.
• Composition: Includes AU Commission Chair, REC Chiefs, UNECA Executive Secretary, AfDB President, AU financial institutions heads.
• Meetings: At least twice a year.

Committee of Secretariat Officials

• Role: Prepares technical reports for Coordination Committee.
• Meetings: At least twice a year.

Detailed Overview of Select RECs

Arab Maghreb Union (UMA)

• Establishment: Marrakech Treaty, 1989.
• Purpose: Strengthen ties, promote prosperity, defend rights, enable free movement.
• Structure: Includes Council of Presidency, Prime Ministers, Foreign Ministers, Follow-up Committee, and four Special Ministerial Committees.
• Challenges: Infrequent meetings; last major meeting in 1994.
• Members: Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia.

Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)

• Establishment: COMESA Treaty, 1993.
• Purpose: Create a free trade region, sustainable growth, and development.
• Structure: Includes Council of Ministers, technical committees, and a Secretariat in Lusaka.
• Institutions: Trade and Development Bank, Clearing House, among others.
• Members: 19 countries, including Egypt, Kenya, Uganda.

Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CENSAD)

• Establishment: 1998.
• Purpose: Economic, cultural, and political integration.
• Structure: Includes Executive Council, Special Ministerial Councils, and ESCC.
• Members: 29 countries, including Benin, Burkina Faso, and Libya.

East African Community (EAC)

• Establishment: Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community, 1999.
• Purpose: Deepen cooperation in political, economic, and social fields.
• Structure: Includes Summit of Heads, Council of Ministers, and Secretariat.
• Members: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania.

Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS)

• Establishment: ECCAS Treaty, 1983.
• Purpose: Promote economic and social development.
• Structure: Includes Conference of Heads, Council of Ministers, General Secretariat.
• Members: 10 countries, including Angola, Congo, Gabon.

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

• Establishment: ECOWAS Treaty, 1975.
• Purpose: Economic integration in various fields.
• Structure: Includes Authority of Heads, Council of Ministers, and Community Parliament.
• Members: 15 countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal.

Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)

• Establishment: 1996, evolved from IGADD.
• Purpose: Address regional cooperation, food security, peace, and stability.
• Structure: Assembly of Heads, Council of Ministers, and Committee of Ambassadors.
• Members: 8 countries, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda.

Southern African Development Community (SADC)

• Establishment: SADC Treaty, 1992.
• Purpose: Economic growth, political stability, democracy.
• Structure: Includes Summit, Council of Ministers, Secretariat.
• Members: 15 countries, including South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Other Related Regional Bodies

International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR)

• Purpose: Address regional conflicts, promote peace and development.
• Establishment: 2003.
• Meetings: Summit every two years.
• Members: 12 countries, including Angola, DR Congo, Rwanda.