African Union and African Integration: The Constitutive Act
Dappa Tamuno-Omi Godwin Ph.D & Innocent Benjamin Namo M.Sc
Department of Political Science
Federal University Wukari
Email:dr.dappa40@yahoo.com, beninam30@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
The aim of this paper is to appraise the African Union and African integration with specifics on the constitutive Act. Africa has made several attempts at integration at various levels. These efforts have recorded varying degrees of success and failure. Via an appraisal of the Constitutive Act of the African Union, this study attempts to determine whether this latest attempt at continental integration in Africa can succeed in certain areas where others, notably the Organization of African Unity, failed. The Constitutive Act is analyzed in the light of prevailing theories of integration and past as well as existing integration initiatives in Africa. The study concludes that the African Union represents an acknowledgement of the weaknesses of past integration efforts in Africa and expresses a commitment to forestall further failure. Nevertheless, Africa continues to face challenges and concerted efforts must be made to enhance the capacities of the organs of the Union in order to facilitate the attainment of its objectives and to secure Africa’s economic and political independence.
