11 May 2006: ISS Today: PAP and the Rationalisation of the RECs

11 MAY 2006: PAN-AFRICAN PARLIAMENT ON THE RATIONALISATION OF THE REGIONAL ECONOMIC COMMUNITIES

 

At the second sitting of the African Union Pan African Parliament (PAP) on 3 May, 2006, the matter of the Rationalisation of the Regional Economic Communities in Africa was placed on the agenda:

 

"THAT, the Pan African Parliament, being aware of and in exercise of its powers under provisions of Rule 5 of the Rules of Procedure, in particular, paragraphs (b), (c), (d) and (e) as read together with its objectives under provisions of Article 3 (1), (7) and specifically paragraph (9), i.e. ‘to facilitate co-operation among Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and their Parliamentary fora’”

Commentary

 

There is a yearning by Africans to achieve a United States of Africa along the same lines as the United States of America (USA) or the European Union (EU). As it stands, the continent is hopelessly divided amongst over 14 formal organisations (some claim as high as 200), whose presence has effectively weakened any moves towards integration. Against this reality however, policy makers are convinced that attaining continental political, economic, cultural, social and security unity is through the strengthening of a limited number of RECs, acting as beacons of integration that ultimately merge into a single African entity.

 

The Second Sitting of the First parliament of PAP, taking place in Midrand, South Africa, placed on its agenda the issue of the urgent rationalization of RECs, with the intent that they are of benefit to the most vulnerable on the continent.

 

Because of the intervention of colonialism, concrete steps to achieve a united Africa have been slow. Hence, it was only in 1976, that the then Organization of African Unity (OAU) Council of Ministers meeting passed a resolution calling for the recognition of only five RECs on the continent: North, South, Central, East and West Africa. This position was also reaffirmed in the Final Act of the Abuja Treaty of 1980. Presently, the African Union (AU) has facilitated the hosting of two consultative meetings in Accra, Ghana and Lusaka, Zambia. However, there has already been a subtle change to the original structure. The First Conference of African Ministers of Integration (COMAI) meeting held at the end of March 2006 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, agreed to halt the recognition of new RECs while acknowledging only eight. The three new ones include the East African Community (EAC), the Common Market for Eastern & Southern African States (COMESA) as well as the Community of Sahelo-Saharian States (CEN-SAD).

 

But what are some of the perceived, almost insurmountable, challenges? First, there appears to be no synergy between the continental position and that of member states when it comes to preference and choice of RECs. Several countries belong simultaneously to different organizations and a decision to join or leave is based on national interests. Secondly not all member states are able to meet the primary role of intervention in conflicts of member-states. Furthermore, much of the conflict mediation is taking place in forums outside of the RECs. Finally, there still exist stifling trade, immigration and tariff restrictions between neighbouring states effectively undermining opportunities for integration.

 

The fact that PAP has placed the issue on its agenda ensures that they will remain seized with the challenge of a united Africa for a very long time to come.

 

Martin Rupiya