██ members of AEC pillar blocs ██ states signatories to the AEC Treaty, but not participating in any of the pillars

The member states of the African Union are mounting efforts to collaborate economically, but they are impeded by the civil wars raging in several parts of Africa. The African Union provides greater powers to govern African economies. The stated goals include the creation of free trade areas, customs unions, single market, a central bank and a common currency thus establishing economic and monetary union. Image File history File links AEC.png Summary African Economic Community green - members of pillar blocs. ... Image File history File links AEC.png Summary African Economic Community green - members of pillar blocs. ... A trade bloc is a large free trade area or free trade area formed by one or more tax, tariff and trade agreements. ... Anthem: Let us all unite and celebrate together Capital Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Membership 53 member states Official languages The African languages, as well as Arabic, Swahili, English, French and Portuguese Formation - As OAU - As AU - May 25, 1963 - July 9, 2002 Chairman of the African Union Denis Sassou-Nguesso Chairman... A free trade area is a designated group of countries that have agreed to eliminate tariffs, quotas and preferences on most (if not all) goods between them. ... A customs union is a free trade area with a Common External Tariff. ... A single market is a customs union with common policies on product regulation, and freedom of movement of all the four factors of production (goods, services, capital and labour). ... In economics, a monetary union is a situation where several countries have agreed to share a single currency among them, for example, the East Caribbean Dollar. ... This article covers the general information on the topic. ...

Pillars of the African Economic Community

Currently contacts are made with the different trade blocs on the African continent - they will form the 'pillars' of AEC. Currently there are multiple Regional blocs (Regional Economic Communities - RECs) with overlapping memberships. Several of these also contain subgroups of tighter customs and/or monetary unions: A trade bloc is a large free trade area or near-free trade area formed by one or more tax, tariff and trade agreements. ... A trade bloc is a large free trade area or free trade area formed by one or more tax, tariff and trade agreements. ...

The pillars and the subgroups of tighter cooperation are the following:

The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), in French Communauté Économique des États dAfrique Centrale (CEEAC), is a organisation for promotion of regional economic co-operation in Central Africa. ... States of CEMAC The Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (or CEMAC from its name in French, Communauté Économique et Monétaire de lAfrique Centrale) is an organization of states of Central Africa established to promote economic integration among countries that share a common currency, the CFA franc. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... States of SACU // Origins The Southern African Customs Union (SACU) came into existence on December 11, 1969 with the signature of the Customs Union Agreement between South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland. ... The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, is a free trade area with twenty one member states stretching from Egypt to Namibia. ... The Arab Maghreb Union is a Pan-Arab trade agreement aiming for economic and political unity in northern Africa. ...

Pillar membership

Pillars of the African Economic Community.

██ member states; year of joining ██ member states; year of joining; cooperation in the framework of the bloc stalled ██ candidate states; year of application Image File history File links Flag_of_Angola. ... States of CEMAC The Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (or CEMAC from its name in French, Communauté Économique et Monétaire de lAfrique Centrale) is an organization of states of Central Africa established to promote economic integration among countries that share a common currency, the CFA franc. ... The Arab Maghreb Union is a Pan-Arab trade agreement aiming for economic and political unity in northern Africa. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Algeria. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Libya. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Mauritania. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Morocco. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Tunisia. ...

The Arab Maghreb Union does not participate in the AEC so far, because of opposition by Morocco. The Arab Maghreb Union is a Pan-Arab trade agreement aiming for economic and political unity in northern Africa. ...

Other blocs

Other African regional blocs, not participating in the AEC (their members are parties to other regional blocs which do participate), are the following.

• Indian Ocean Commission (COI)
• Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL)
• Mano River Union (MRU)
• Liptako-Gourma Authority (LGA)
• Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)
• Agadir Agreement (includes Mediterranean states, one from Asia)

Their membership is as follows: The Indian Ocean Commission (COI), known as the Commission de lOcéan Indien in French, is an intergovernmental organization that joins Reunion Island, Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, the Seychelles and Mayotte together to encourage cooperation. ... The CEPGL is an International Governmental Organization. ... The Mano River Union (MRU) is a society established in 1973 between Liberia and Sierra Leone. ... The Liptako-Gourma Authority is an regional organization seeking to develop the contiguous areas of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. ... The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is a seven-country regional development organization in Eastern Africa. ... The Euro-Mediterranean free trade area (EU-MEFTA) is based on the Barcelona Process and European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). ... The Mediterranean Sea is an intercontinental sea positioned between Europe to the north, Africa to the south and Asia to the east, covering an approximate area of 2. ...

¹ Proposed for pillar REC, but objecting participation Image File history File links Flag_of_Eritrea. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Kenya. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Tanzania. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Uganda. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Egypt. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Morocco. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Tunisia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Jordan. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Rwanda. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Burundi. ...

██ member states; year of joining ██ member states; year of joining; cooperation in the framework of the bloc stalled ██ candidate states; year of applicating

Goals

The AEC founded through the Abuja Treaty, signed in 1991 and entered into force in 1994 is envisioned to be created in six stages: The Abuja Treaty is an international agreement signed on June 3rd 1991 in Abuja, Nigeria. ...

1. (to be completed in 1999) Creation of regional blocs in regions where such do not yet exist
2. (to be completed in 2007) Strengthening of intra-REC integration and inter-REC harmonisation
3. (to be completed in 2017) Establishing of a free trade area and customs union in each regional bloc
4. (to be completed in 2019) Establishing of a continent-wide customs union (and thus also a free trade area)
5. (to be completed in 2023) Establishing of a continent-wide African Common Market (ACM)
6. (to be completed in 2028) Establishing of a continent-wide economic and monetary union (and thus also a currency union) and Parliament

• End of all transition periods: 2034 at the latest

A free trade area is a designated group of countries that have agreed to eliminate tariffs, quotas and preferences on most (if not all) goods between them. ... A customs union is a free trade area with a Common External Tariff. ... The European Community (EC), most important of three European Communities, was originally founded on March 25, 1957 by the signing of the Treaty of Rome under the name of European Economic Community. ... This article covers the general information on the topic. ... In economics, a monetary union is a situation where several countries have agreed to share a single currency among them, for example, the East Caribbean Dollar. ... States currently utilizing parliamentary systems are denoted in orange and red—the former being constitutional monarchies where authority is vested in a parliament, and the latter being parliamentary republics whose parliaments are effectively supreme over a separate head of state. ...

Stages progress

as of December 2005

• Stage 1: Completed, only UMA members and Sahrawi Republic not participating
• Stage 2: Steady progress, nothing factual to check
• Stage 3:

¹ not yet participating members: Angola, DR Congo (in talks to join), Eritrea, Ethiopia, Seychelles (in talks to join), Swaziland (on derogation until SACU gives permission for Swaziland to join the FTA), Uganda
The Arab Maghreb Union is a Pan-Arab trade agreement aiming for economic and political unity in northern Africa. ... Official language Arabic, Spanish Largest city Al `Uyūn (العيون) - Arabic original El Aaiún - Spanish transliteration Laâyoune - French transliteration Area - Total - % water 266,000 km² Negligible Population - Total - Density 267,405 (July 2004 est. ... The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional group of fifteen countries, founded on May 28, 1975 when fifteen West African countries signed the Treaty of Lagos. ... EAC The three states that make up the East African Community The East African Community (EAC) is a customs union in East Africa, consisting of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), in French Communauté Économique des États dAfrique Centrale (CEEAC), is a organisation for promotion of regional economic co-operation in Central Africa. ... The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, is a free trade area with twenty one member states stretching from Egypt to Namibia. ... The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is a seven-country regional development organization in Eastern Africa. ... The Euro-Mediterranean free trade area (EU-MEFTA) is based on the Barcelona Process and European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). ... The Arab Maghreb Union is a Pan-Arab trade agreement aiming for economic and political unity in northern Africa. ... States of UEMOA The West African Economic and Monetary Union (or UEMOA from its name in French, Union économique et monétaire ouest-africaine) is an organization of states of West Africa established to promote economic integration among countries that share a common currency, the CFA franc. ... States of SACU // Origins The Southern African Customs Union (SACU) came into existence on December 11, 1969 with the signature of the Customs Union Agreement between South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland. ... States of CEMAC The Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (or CEMAC from its name in French, Communauté Économique et Monétaire de lAfrique Centrale) is an organization of states of Central Africa established to promote economic integration among countries that share a common currency, the CFA franc. ... A free trade area is a designated group of countries that have agreed to eliminate tariffs, quotas and preferences on most (if not all) goods between them. ... A customs union is a free trade area with a Common External Tariff. ...

• Stage 4: no progress yet
• Stage 5: no progress yet
• Stage 6: no progress yet

Comparison between Regional blocs

¹ not all members participating yet
² telecommunications, transport and energy - proposed
³ sensitive goods to be covered from 2012
2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... World Factbook 2005 cover The World Factbook is an annual publication by the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States with basic almanac-style information about the various countries of the world. ... The logo of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is the international organization entrusted with overseeing the global financial system by monitoring exchange rates and balance of payments, as well as offering technical and financial assistance when asked. ... A free trade area is a designated group of countries that have agreed to eliminate tariffs, quotas and preferences on most (if not all) goods between them. ... A customs union is a free trade area with a Common External Tariff. ... This article covers the general information on the topic. ... Travel is the transport of people on a trip or journey. ... Politics is a process by which decisions are made within groups. ... Collective defense is an arrangement, usually formalized by a treaty and an organization, among participant states that commit support in defense of a member state if it is attacked by another state outside the organization. ... A single market is a customs union with common policies on product regulation, and freedom of movement of all the four factors of production (goods, services, capital and labour). ... In economics, a monetary union is a situation where several countries have agreed to share a single currency among them, for example, the East Caribbean Dollar. ... An entry visa valid in all Schengen treaty countries Visas for Laos, Thailand, and Sri Lanka A visa (short for the Latin carta visa, lit. ... Border control is a term that describes how a country polices its borders. ... The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional group of fifteen countries, founded on May 28, 1975 when fifteen West African countries signed the Treaty of Lagos. ... States of UEMOA The West African Economic and Monetary Union (or UEMOA from its name in French, Union économique et monétaire ouest-africaine) is an organization of states of West Africa established to promote economic integration among countries that share a common currency, the CFA franc. ... The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional group of fifteen countries, founded on May 28, 1975 when fifteen West African countries signed the Treaty of Lagos. ... States of WAMZ Light green: interested in joining The Eco is the proposed name for the common currency the West African Monetary Zone plans to introduce by 2009 in the framework of ECOWAS. See Also West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC... ECOMOG is a West African multilateral armed force established by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). ... EAC The three states that make up the East African Community The East African Community (EAC) is a customs union in East Africa, consisting of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. ... The East African Shilling is the proposed name for the common currency the East African Community plans to introduce by 2009. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... States of SACU // Origins The Southern African Customs Union (SACU) came into existence on December 11, 1969 with the signature of the Customs Union Agreement between South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland. ... Allied to the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) is the Common Monetary Area (CMA) which links South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland into a Currency union. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), in French Communauté Économique des États dAfrique Centrale (CEEAC), is a organisation for promotion of regional economic co-operation in Central Africa. ... States of CEMAC The Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (or CEMAC from its name in French, Communauté Économique et Monétaire de lAfrique Centrale) is an organization of states of Central Africa established to promote economic integration among countries that share a common currency, the CFA franc. ... The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), in French Communauté Économique des États dAfrique Centrale (CEEAC), is a organisation for promotion of regional economic co-operation in Central Africa. ... The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), in French Communauté Économique des États dAfrique Centrale (CEEAC), is a organisation for promotion of regional economic co-operation in Central Africa. ... The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, is a free trade area with twenty one member states stretching from Egypt to Namibia. ... The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is a seven-country regional development organization in Eastern Africa. ... Telecommunication involves the transmission of signals over a distance for the purpose of communication. ...

See also

• Economy of Africa
• African Union
• Common African currency

The economy of Africa comprises approximately 887 million people as of July 2005 living in 54 different states. ... Anthem: Let us all unite and celebrate together Capital Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Membership 53 member states Official languages The African languages, as well as Arabic, Swahili, English, French and Portuguese Formation - As OAU - As AU - May 25, 1963 - July 9, 2002 Chairman of the African Union Denis Sassou-Nguesso Chairman...

References

• Pan-African Perspective