Regional Integration Dynamics in Central Africa: an appraisal of ECCAS

Although Central Africa has one of the longest histories in regional integration efforts on the continent, and despite the existence of very strong impulses for the pursuit of regional integration in the sub-region, the pace of integration has been painfully slow, resulting in the sub-region being perceived as one of the least integrated on the continent. The study therefore, provides an analysis of the dynamics of integration in the Central African sub-region, with a particular focus on the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), including its relationship with the smaller, though parallel, Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC). While ECCAS is potentially a bigger economic space than CEMAC, it is has made less progress in integrative processes and in meeting its charter objectives. It has nevertheless received greater recognition as the Central African pillar in the OAU/AU continental integration project, as well as from global actors and institutions. The pace of integration in Central Africa has serious implications on the prospects of actualizing the continent¿s aspiration to establishing a continent-wide economic space.