An assessment of the relationship between economic intergration and regional security in East Africa

Abstract

This project is an assessment of the relationship between economic integration and regional security in East Africa. This was done by examining the factors leading to security threats in the East African region and efforts put in place to deal with them. The East African states continue to face many security challenges which i~clude: trafficking in persons and migrant smuggling, firearms trafficking, drug trafficking, environmental crimes, counterfeit, money laundering and piracy. Twenty officers from the ministry of East African Community and that of Regional Affairs were interviewed with the aim of trying to get their opinion on the role of economic integration in regional security. The study findings indicate that there exists cooperation in priority areas of trade and industry, security, immigration and promotion of investment in the region. Three issues that pose major threats to regional security are: ethnicity, economic crisis and political violence. Mutual accountability and strengthening African security capacity are the most important factors in ensuring regional security in East Africa. The study further observed that regional cooperation is the key element in the process of integration. Commitment levels of member-states and the distribution of costs and benefits of integration leads to adoption of security measures which is most vital element in economic integration and regional security in the East African region. The findings indicate that Protocols have been adopted by member states in order to deal with arms trafficking. However, there are no clear standardized laws in place to deal with other organized crimes in the region. Regional development can only be achieved if the security challenges are addressed. Security threats are likely to occur when individual human needs have not been met. It is a wide consensus that peace is inexorably tied to both security and development. This project therefore recommends that policy makers in the region and the individual member states endeavor to meet basic human needs of their population in order to look forward to a secure region.