GEOG 323: Regional Geography of Africa (East Africa)

Regional Cooperation and

Continental Integration

Dr Isaac K. Arthur
Department of Geography and Resource Development
University of Ghana, Legon

What is regional Co-operation?

It concerned with people and organizations in
a region working together to solve common
problems and pursue common ends.

What is regional integration?

The study of regional integration is concerned with
explaining how and why states cease to be wholly sovereign,
how and why -they voluntarily mingle, merge, and mix with
their neighbours so as to lose the factual attributes of
sovereignty while acquiring new techniques for resolving
conflict between themselves (Haas 1970 p. 610).
Regional integration is a process in which neighboring states
enter into an agreement in order to upgrade cooperation
through common institutions and rules.
Regional integration is the process by which two or more
nation-states agree to co-operate and work closely together to
achieve peace, stability and wealth.

Regional cooperation and integration

Regional cooperation and integration is a
process by which national economies become
more interconnected regionally.

The case for regional cooperation and

integration in Africa
Africa's unique physical, economic and political geography poses many
challenges to economic development and management of shared
public goods.

Political borders are often not aligned with economic and natural
resources and many countries are landlocked.

National economies and populations are generally quite small, but

cover large geographic expanses with poor connective infrastructure.
Regional integration and cooperation offers the means to overcome
these obstacles and to be competitive in the global marketplace.
World Bank 2013

Rationale for Regional Integration

Unity among countries to form economic bloc can
expand bargaining power of each component country.
Markets & production capacities of smaller countries
can achieve economies of scale.
Merging or pooling resources to support infrastructure
that crosses boundaries: rail, roads, air transport,
shipping esp. for landlocked countries such as Uganda,
Mali, Burkina Faso, etc.

Rationale for Regional Integration

Sharing of research and scientific
information for challenges that cross
national boundaries:
Environmental management
Disease vector control
Tourism development
Housing settlements
Employment & labor force migration

Regional Co-operation Under Colonial

Rule in East Africa
Unionisation in the sub region was a topic of interest to
the colonial powers.
This was essential to facilitate the mobilisation of
resources and coordination of services over a larger area
for economic development.

The issue of consolidating and administration and

rationalising the provision of infrastructure services British,
East Central and Southern Africa came to the fore.
After the British assuming control over Tanganyika and
Zanzibar at the end of WW 1

 The first move was made towards closer union and

coordination of policy in East Africa and Central
Africa.

There was little local support for the idea of the

union among the European settlers and the Africans
were probably not aware of the proposal.
The idea was revived in 1929 but it again met
opposition from the white settlers in the region.
Northern and Southern Rhodesia and Nyasaland
were later constituted into the Central African
Federation.

 However, the federation was disbanded under

African attack.
The three colonies became separate states and were
renamed Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi.

A scheme for coordination of common services in

East Africa was officially accepted in 1947.
The East African High Commission and the East
African Central Assembly was created and charged
with responsibility of implementing the scheme.

 The East African Community was set up in 1948 to

operate common services in transport and
communication, administration, education, banking and
currency systems.

In the transition of independence, the EAC was

recognised in 1961 and called East African
Community Organisation (EACO).
The organisation handled administration of the
social, economic and scientific services in the
region.

The Basis of Post-Independence Integration

Uganda is land-locked and depends on transportation network
of Kenya for access to the Indian Ocean to transact
international trade.

The problems arising from the division of several ethnic

communities by the colonial boundaries which have been
inherited by the African countries would be resolved by closer
co-operation among the three states.
Common histories & related cultures
Contiguous borders

 Common means of communicating:

Swahili is a lingua franca in the region: Uganda,
Kenya, Tanzania
English is a unifying language, legacy of
colonialism.
Francophone former Belgium colony, Rwanda
adopted English as language for university
instruction

East African Economic Community

The EAC was treaty was established in 1967.

The EAC is a regional intergovernmental organisation that aims to

promote regional integration through increased trade in the
region by ensuring free movement of people, goods and the
factors of production among the member states.
Coordinating role
It also sought to promote cooperation and integration among
member states in a wide variety of policy areas, including science
and technology, environment and natural resources management,
and health, social and cultural activities.

Challenges of Integration

Political and ideological differences

Trans-boundary disputes
Competing industries
The rise to power of Idi Amin, horrors
committed and the breakdown of Ugandas
economy.
Poor infrastructure
Now: Emergent terrorism

The East Africa Community Revived

Following Amins ouster, leaders of the three member
countries agreed again in 1984 to explore future
possibilities for cooperation.
A treaty was signed in 1999 to re-establish the EAC, and
this was formally reconstituted in 000 when the treaty
went into force.
In January 2005 the EAC established a customs union
that eliminated duties on goods traded with in the EAC.
Burundi and Rwanda joined in 2007 and also became
part of the customs union.

Intention to form a federation.

East Africa Community

http://www.eac.int/

Member States:
Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda

Organizations that promote

Regional Integration &
Cooperation

African Union 50 +Years

Successor to Organization of
African Unity (OAU, est.1963)
Aims:
Unity & solidarity
Economic integration
Continental peace, security
Sustainable development

Other Regional Organizations

COMESA
Common Market for Eastern & Southern
Africa

SADC
Southern African Development Community.
Includes East African countries

ICAD (Inter-Governmental Authority for

Development)-regional trading bloc
consisting of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia,
Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Kenya,
Uganda

Group Presentation Exercise

The role of mineral and energy resources in
East Africa.
Why is regional integration an option for
development in East Africa.