Emerging Issues in West Africa

Developments in Regional Integration in 2012
In the context of globalization, with the consolidation of regional groupings, the African Union founded its vision on regional integration as the optimal strategic framework for the “transformation and modernization of African economies”. This vision is translated into policies and strategies, in order to overcome obstacles and constraints of all sorts related to the challenges of the development of the continent: recurring political and institutional crises, limited national markets, fragmented economies, endemic poverty, and a low level of industrialization (ECA/ SRO-CA).
Emerging Issues in West Africa

In the context of globalization, with the consolidation of regional groupings, the African Union founded its vision on regional integration as the optimal strategic framework for the “transformation and modernization of African economies”. This vision is translated into policies and strategies, in order to overcome obstacles and constraints of all sorts related to the challenges of the development of the continent: recurring political and institutional crises, limited national markets, fragmented economies, endemic poverty, and a low level of industrialization (ECA/ SRO-CA).

To successfully conduct the process of accelerating the implementation of the Abuja Treaty, the African Union Commission (AUC) adopted action plans articulated around four strategic poles, which are:

  • peace and security;
  • integration, development and cooperation;
  • shared values; and
  • the strengthening of institutions and capacities (ECA/SRO-CA).