Africa’s trade blocs were designed to unite continent: Four reasons they haven’t delivered
From left: Zimbabwe President and SADC Chairperson Emmerson Mnangagwa, Kenya’s President and EAC Chairperson William Ruto, and AUC Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf during a meeting with the panel of facilitators for the DRC peace process at State House in Nairobi, Kenya, on August 1, 2025.
In a rapidly fracturing world, regional integration could be a source of resilience for the African continent.
The African Union agreed in 2019 to establish the African Continental Free Trade Area founded on the building blocks laid by eight regional economic communities. These are the Arab Maghreb Union, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa), the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (Cen-Sad), the East African Community (EAC), the Economic Community of Central African States (Eccas), the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
