| dc.description.abstract | The renewed purpose by African leaders to press forward with Pan-Africanism
and to reactivate and rejuvenate African partnership both intra and global is of
tremendous historic and economic significance. This study has addressed some
fundamental concerns about the proposed AEC through a critical analysis of Pan-African
integration, provisions of the treaty and the possibility of achieving a united Africa by
2025. The study also examines the thorny issues of rationalization, cooperation and
amalgamation of RECs as building blocks of continental integration under Functionalist
theory of regional integration. Similarly the European Union experience, impediments and apparent success
have significantly informed this study. The study has also looked at the record of success
and failure and the political economic and administrative hurdles attendant to this process
and suggests the way forward. In addition, the study has further assessed how African
countries' practice of multiple memberships has constituted an obstacle to the success of
regional/continental integration. Issues such as civil strife, cont1icts and the lack of
transport and communications infrastructure have played a negative role and have
delayed progress in regional integration. Such are the challenges faced by the Abuja's
AEC which now has been converted into the African Union. In reality these are just some
of the lessons and challenges that the AU will have to contend with. | en |
