Regional integration in Africa can increase economic growth, improve infrastructure and connectivity, secure peace and security and amplify African voices in global forums. Here you can read the latest blog contributions relating to regional integration in Africa.
Breaking Barriers: The Legal Struggles and Opportunities of Labor Migration Across Africa
Introduction Migration in Africa is more than a journey; it’s a dynamic intersection of hope, challenges, and opportunities. It acts as a place of origin, a transit point, and a destination for many individuals.[1] However, in addition, to searching for…
Red Sea Dreams: Ethiopia’s Challenges and Hopes Amid International Law and Geopolitics
Introduction Ethiopia is the second-most populous landlocked country in Africa, following Nigeria.[1] Historically, Ethiopia had access to the Red Sea for an extended period, iuntil Eritrea gained independence in 1993,…
Opinion: No EAC integration without sustainable solutions for Eastern DRC
The ongoing crisis in Eastern Congo, marked by the resurgence of the M23 rebel group, backed by Rwanda (according to UN Peacekeeping Forces) and the involvement of multiple military actors,…
Retracing Collectivity – and attempting to look beyond the horizon of European jurisprudence
Recently, I have commenced my research on climate change litigation in the area of European human rights. One of the first relevant topics of my investigation is the question of…
The East African Community: Past Experiences and Lessons for the Future
Introduction The East Africa Community (EAC) is one of the oldest regional economic blocs in the world.[1] Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, as members of EAC, had a customs union as…
AfCFTA Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade: A Review
Introduction The Protocol on Women and Youth in trade (PWYT) is path-breaking given that it improves upon most of the existing regional trade agreements (RTAs) which do not incorporate specific…
Digital Trade and MSMEs under the AfCFTA: Challenges and Prospects
Introduction The conclusion and approval of the Protocol to the Agreement Establishing the AfCFTA on Digital Trade (the Protocol on Digital Trade (PDT) or e-commerce) climaxes the Phase III of…
The Legal Status of Indigenous Peoples within the East African Community
Indigenous peoples are found across almost all the Partner States of the East Africa Community (EAC) and are broadly categorised into nomadic, semi-nomadic and hunter-gatherer communities. Defining Indigenous Peoples in…
Territoriality of Intellectual Property Systems and Intellectual Property Protection under the EAC Common Market
Introduction Intellectual Property (IP) protection systems in the EAC embrace the principle of territoriality in the protection of all aspects of IP. The principle of territoriality of IP systems entails…
Enhancing Performance Auditing in Regional Economic Communities: A Case Study of the EAC
1. Introduction Regional Economic Communities (RECs) are established to achieve various goals, but almost all are established for economic purposes and to reduce, if not eliminate, all intra-trade barriers.[1] The…
The Ongoing Expansion of the EAC and the People-Centered Principle of Integration
An Introduction to the East African Community On 24 November 2023, Somalia joined the East African Community (EAC),[1] making the EAC have a total of eight partner States: Tanzania, Kenya,…
Dispute Settlement, Sustainable Development and AfCFTA: A Scoping Analysis
1.1 Introduction The African Union (AU)’s approval of Phase 2 of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) covering the protocols on investment, intellectual property and competition policy reinforces…
Somalia Becomes the Eighth Member of the EAC – Back to the Roots?
The time has come! On 24 November 2023, the heads of state and government of the East African Community (EAC) approved Somalia’s accession. Thus, Somalia will become the eighth member…
Development of Regional Integration Research at the TGCL
The establishment of the Tanzanian-German Centre for Eastern African Legal Studies (TGCL) was premised on the vision of training young lawyers to assume leadership positions in various sectors by training…
Change Through Trade? East African Community Starts Accession Negotiations with Somalia
The East African Community (EAC) is one of the fastest-growing regional economic blocs in the world. It currently comprises seven partner states, including Congo (since 2022), the Republic of Burundi,…
Economic Dimensions of Peace Operations and Peacebuilding in Africa: The Role of AfCFTA
Introduction Africa cannot be described as conflict-free, fragile and conflict-affected states/situations remain endemic across the continent. [1] The African Union (AU)’s Solemn Declaration and the ‘Silencing the Guns’ initiative recognize…
The Right to a Clean and Healthy Environment in Africa through the Lens of Regional Integration
Source: UN News Introduction The UN General Assembly on 28th July, 2022 adopted a landmark resolution recognizing and making a declaration that the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable…
‘Even if you Dress Up, you will not Come to the City!’ Promoting Free Movement of Persons by the East African Court of Justice under Mohochi’s Case
Source: Marco Bianchetti (2020) ANALYSIS Jebby Gonza 29 April 2022 Just as water is significant for a fish’s survival, so is cross border migration a fundamental aspect of the East…
Creating Momentum for More Integrationist Judgments in African RECs: Lessons from Van Gend Decision
Source: Maksim Shutov (2019) ANALYSIS Nelson Otieno 08 October 2021 The success of the European economic integration project has influenced similar efforts across the world. Notably, the European experience has…
Regional Integration and State Sovereignty: Should State Sovereignty be Sacrificed to Safeguard Regional Integration?
Source: Wikimedia COMMENT Gilbert Hagabimana 30 April 2021 Under regional integration process, sovereign states voluntarily combine their efforts in order to create common interests and objectives. At the same time,…
So Near Yet Too Far: Insights on Intrigues of Harmonization of Cybercrime Regulation in EAC
Source: Abijita.com ANALYSIS Nelson Otieno 23 April 2021 Every regional integration arrangement has its ups and downs. One example being the East African Community (EAC). Yet, the prospects and challenges…
Reinventing Regional Mobility across Africa through the Single African Air Transport Market
Source: Wikiwand COMMENT Louis Gitinywa 16 April 2021 After Asia, Africa is the world’s second fastest growing region. Yet across the different regional blocs[1] there are big challenges in driving…
Kenya’s Repatriation of Refugees in a Wake of Regional Integration
Source: DW.com COMMENT Jan Maina 09 April 2021 Kenya has in the past week ordered closure of Daadab and Kakuma Refugee camps which are among the world largest refugee camps[1].…
Appraisal of Legal Challenges and Intra-Regional Trade Within EAC
Source: KFW-Entwicklungsbank ANALYSIS Otieno Kennedy Abuya 02 April 2021 The East African Community (EAC) is one of the many Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in Africa. The bloc is made up…
COVID-19: Implications on the EAC Regional Economic Community
ANALYSIS Dr. Daniel Shayo 04 November 2020 On the 11th March 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 to be a global pandemic. Consequently, governments worldwide were urged to…