View source for African Economic Community

{{Short description|International organization}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2009}}
{{Politics of the African Union|institutions}}
{{AU History}}

The '''African Economic Community''' ('''AEC''') is an organization of [[African Union]] states establishing grounds for mutual economic development among the majority of [[Africa]]n states.<ref name="UIA">{{Cite web |url=https://uia.org/s/or/en/1100027996 |url-access= |title=African Economic Community (AEC) |author1=Staff writer |year=2024 |department=UIA Global Civil Society Database |website=uia.org |publisher=[[Union of International Associations]] |agency=Yearbook of International Organizations Online |location=Brussels, Belgium |format= |arxiv= |asin= |bibcode= |doi= |doi-broken-date= |isbn= |issn= |jfm= |jstor= |lccn= |mr= |oclc= |ol= |osti= |pmc= |pmid= |rfc= |ssrn= |zbl= |id= |access-date=29 January 2025 |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |via= |quote= |trans-quote= |ref= |postscript=}}</ref> The stated goals of the organization include the creation of [[free trade area]]s, [[customs union]]s, a [[single market]], a [[central bank]], and a common currency (see [[African Monetary Union]]) thus establishing an [[economic and monetary union]].

== Goals ==
The AEC founded through the [[Abuja Treaty]], signed in 1991 and entered into force in 1994<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://uia.org/s/or/en/1100026159 |url-access= |title=Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community (Abuja treaty) |author1=Staff writer |year=2024 |department=UIA Global Civil Society Database |website=uia.org |publisher=[[Union of International Associations]] |agency=Yearbook of International Organizations Online |location=Brussels, Belgium |format= |arxiv= |asin= |bibcode= |doi= |doi-broken-date= |isbn= |issn= |jfm= |jstor= |lccn= |mr= |oclc= |ol= |osti= |pmc= |pmid= |rfc= |ssrn= |zbl= |id= |access-date=29 January 2025 |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |via= |quote= |trans-quote= |ref= |postscript=}}</ref>
is envisioned to be created in six stages:
# (completed in 1999) Creation of regional blocs in regions where such do not yet exist
# (completed in 2007) Strengthening of intra-REC integration and inter-REC harmonisation
# (completed in 2021) Establishing of a [[free trade area]] and [[customs union]] in each regional bloc
# (to be completed in 2023) Establishing of a continent-wide customs union (and thus also a free trade area)
# (to be completed in 2025) Establishing of a continent-wide '''African [[Common Market]]''' (ACM)
# (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

{{update|pre-2017 deadlines|date= January 2017}}

=== Stages progress ===
<small>''as of September 2007''</small>
* Stage 1: '''Completed''', only [[Arab Maghreb Union]] members and [[Western Sahara|Sahrawi Republic]] not participating. [[Somalia]] is participating, but no practical implementation yet.
* Stage 2: Steady progress, nothing factual to check.
* Stage 3:
{| border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing=0 class="toccolours" style="border-collapse:collapse"
|- bgcolor="#ececec"
! &nbsp;
! colspan="12" | Regional blocs - pillars of the African Economic Community (AEC)
|-
! rowspan="2"| Activity
! rowspan="2"| [[Community of Sahel-Saharan States|CEN-SAD]]
! rowspan="2"| [[Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa|COMESA]]
! rowspan="2"| [[East African Community|EAC]]
! colspan="2"| [[Economic Community of Central African States|ECCAS]]
! colspan="3"| [[Economic Community of West African States|ECOWAS]]
! rowspan="2"| [[Intergovernmental Authority on Development|IGAD]]
! colspan="2"| [[Southern African Development Community|SADC]]
! rowspan="2"| [[Arab Maghreb Union|UMA]]
|-
! [[Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa|CEMAC]] !! Common
! [[West African Economic and Monetary Union|UEMOA]] !! [[West African Monetary Zone|WAMZ]] !! Common
! [[Southern African Customs Union|SACU]] !! Common
|-
| align="center"| '''[[Free Trade Area]]'''
| bgcolor=red | stalled
| bgcolor=YELLOW | progressing <sup>1</sup>
| bgcolor=lightgreen | fully in force
| bgcolor=lightgreen | fully in force
| bgcolor=orange | proposed for 2007 ?
| bgcolor=lightgreen | fully in force
|
| bgcolor=orange | proposed
| bgcolor=red | stalled
| bgcolor=lightgreen | fully in force
| bgcolor=YELLOW | progressing <sup>2</sup>
| bgcolor=red | stalled
|-
| align="center"| '''[[Customs Union]]'''
| bgcolor=red | stalled
| bgcolor=orange | proposed for 2008
| bgcolor=lightgreen | fully in force
| bgcolor=lightgreen | fully in force
| bgcolor=orange | proposed for 2011 ?
| bgcolor=lightgreen | fully in force
|
| bgcolor=orange | proposed for 2007
| bgcolor=red | stalled
| bgcolor=lightgreen | fully in force
| bgcolor=orange | proposed for 2010
| bgcolor=red | stalled
|}
<small>
<sup>1</sup> Members not yet participating: [[Democratic Republic of Congo|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]] (to join very soon)[http://allafrica.com/stories/200610160583.html]<br>
<sup>2</sup> Members not yet participating: [[Angola]], [[Democratic Republic of Congo|DR Congo]], [[Seychelles]] [https://web.archive.org/web/20090622115816/http://www.sadc.int/fta]<br>
</small>
* Stage 4: In March 2018, 49 African countries signed the [[African Continental Free Trade Agreement]] paving the way for a continent-wide [[African Continental Free Trade Area|free trade area]]. The continental free trade area became operational in July 2019, after 22 ratifications.<ref name="AfricanBusiness">{{cite web|url=https://africanbusinessmagazine.com/uncategorised/continental/africa-free-trade-agreement-gets-last-ratification-from-gambia/|title=Africa free trade agreement gets last ratification from Gambia|last1=Kede|first1=Shoshana|website=[[African Business|AfricanBusinessMagazine.com]]|date=2 April 2019|access-date=2 April 2019|archive-date=2 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402195443/https://africanbusinessmagazine.com/uncategorised/continental/africa-free-trade-agreement-gets-last-ratification-from-gambia/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="AUInt">{{cite web|date=29 April 2019|title=AfCFTA Agreement secures minimum threshold of 22 ratification as Sierra Leone and the Saharawi Republic deposit instruments|url=https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20190429/afcfta-agreement-secures-minimum-threshold-22-ratification-sierra-leone-and|access-date=11 August 2020|website=African Union}}</ref> As of 2021, 34 signatories have effectively become parties of the treaty.
* Stage 5: no progress yet
* Stage 6: no progress yet

=== Overall progress ===
[[File:Map of the African Union.svg|thumb|325x325px|{{legend|#008000|Members of the AEC's parent, the African Union}}]]
{| border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing=0 class="toccolours" style="border-collapse:collapse"
|- bgcolor="#ececec"
! colspan="2"| !!  ! colspan="8" | Activities
|- bgcolor="#ececec"
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" | Regional bloc
! rowspan="2"| [[Free Trade Area]]
! colspan="3"| [[Economic and monetary union]]
! colspan="2"| Free [[Travel]]
! rowspan="2"| [[Politics|Political]] pact
! rowspan="2"| [[Collective defense|Defence pact]]
|- bgcolor="#ececec"
! [[Customs Union]]
! [[Single Market]]
! [[Currency Union]]
! [[Visa (document)|Visa-free]]
! [[Border control|Border-less]]
|- bgcolor="#ececec"
| colspan="2" align="center"| '''AEC'''
| Partially In Force
| proposed for 2023
| proposed for 2023
| proposed for 2028
| proposed for 2023
| proposed for 2023
| proposed for 2028
| proposed for 2028
|-
| colspan="2" align="center"| '''[[Community of Sahel-Saharan States|CEN-SAD]]'''
| bgcolor=YELLOW | proposed for 2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|colspan="2" align="center"| '''[[Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa|COMESA]]'''
| bgcolor=lightgreen | in force <sup>1</sup>
| bgcolor=YELLOW | proposed for 2008
| ?
| bgcolor=YELLOW | proposed for 2018
|
|
|
|
|-
|colspan="2" align="center"| '''[[East African Community|EAC]]'''
| bgcolor=lightgreen | in force
| bgcolor=lightgreen | in force
| bgcolor=YELLOW  | proposed for 2015
| bgcolor=YELLOW | [[East African shilling|proposed for 2024]]
| bgcolor=orange | proposed for 2018<ref name=TheEastAfrican>{{cite web|url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/East-Africa-e-passports-to-be-issued-in-2018/2558-3892934-5nf7g5z/index.html|title=East Africa e-passports to be issued in 2018|first1=Christabel|last1=Ligami|date=2017-04-17|website=theeastafrican.co.ke|access-date=2017-10-04}}</ref>
| ?
| bgcolor=YELLOW | proposed for 2023
|
|-
| rowspan=2 align="center"|'''[[Economic Community of Central African States|ECCAS]]'''
| align="center"| [[Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa|CEMAC]]
| bgcolor=lightgreen | in force
| bgcolor=lightgreen | in force
| ?
| bgcolor=lightgreen | in force
|
|
|
|
|-
| align="center" | '''[[Economic Community of Central African States|Common]]'''
| bgcolor=YELLOW | proposed for 2007 ?
| bgcolor=YELLOW | proposed for 2011 ?
| bgcolor=orange | proposed
| bgcolor=orange | proposed
| bgcolor=orange | proposed
| ?
|
| bgcolor=lightgreen | [[Council for Peace and Security in Central Africa|in force]]
|-
| rowspan=3 align="center"| '''[[Economic Community of West African States|ECOWAS]]'''
| align="center"| [[West African Economic and Monetary Union|UEMOA]]
| bgcolor=lightgreen| in force
| bgcolor=lightgreen| in force
| bgcolor=orange| proposed<ref>[http://docsonline.wto.org/DDFDocuments/t/WT/COMTD/N11.DOC WT/COMTD/N/11] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325011319/http://docsonline.wto.org/DDFDocuments/t/WT/COMTD/N11.DOC |date=2009-03-25 }}</ref>
| bgcolor=lightgreen| in force
|
|
|
|
|-
| align="center"| [[West African Monetary Zone|WAMZ]]
|
|
| ?
| bgcolor=YELLOW| proposed for 2012
|
|
|
|
|-
| align="center"| '''[[Economic Community of West African States|Common]]'''
| bgcolor=orange| proposed <sup>2</sup>
| bgcolor=YELLOW| proposed for 2007
| bgcolor=orange| proposed<ref>[http://docsonline.wto.org/DDFDocuments/t/WT/COMTD/N21.doc WT/COMTD/N/21] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327074930/http://docsonline.wto.org/DDFDocuments/t/WT/COMTD/N21.doc |date=2009-03-27 }}</ref>
| bgcolor=orange| proposed
| bgcolor=lightgreen| in force <sup>1</sup>
| bgcolor=orange| proposed
| bgcolor=orange| proposed
| bgcolor=lightgreen| [[ECOMOG|in force]]
|-
| colspan="2" align="center"| '''[[Intergovernmental Authority on Development|IGAD]]'''
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
| rowspan=2 align="center"| '''[[Southern African Development Community|SADC]]'''
| align="center"| [[Southern African Customs Union|SACU]]
| bgcolor=lightgreen| in force
| bgcolor=lightgreen| in force
|
| bgcolor=lightgreen| de facto [[Common Monetary Area|in force]] <sup>1</sup>
| ?
|
|
|
|-
| align="center"| '''[[Southern African Development Community|Common]]'''<sup>[http://www.nationmedia.com/eastafrican/current/News/News061120061.htm]{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</sup>
| bgcolor=YELLOW| proposed for 2008 <sup>3</sup>
| bgcolor=YELLOW| proposed for 2010
| bgcolor=YELLOW| proposed for 2015
| bgcolor=YELLOW| proposed for 2016
|
|
|
|
|-
| colspan="2" align="center"| '''[[Arab Maghreb Union|UMA]]'''
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|}
<small>
<sup>1</sup> not all members participating yet<br>
<sup>2</sup> [[telecommunications]], [[transport]] and [[energy]] - proposed<br>
<sup>3</sup> sensitive goods to be covered from 2012<br>
</small>

{{African Economic Community|float=right}}

== Pillars ==
Currently there are multiple [[regional bloc]]s in Africa, also known as [[Regional Economic Communities|Regional Economic Communities (RECs)]], many of which have overlapping memberships. The RECs consist primarily of [[trade bloc]]s and, in some cases, some political and military cooperation. Most of these RECs form the "pillars" of AEC, many of which also have an overlap in some of their member states. Due to this high proportion of overlap it is likely that some states with several memberships will eventually drop out of one or more RECs. Several of these pillars also contain subgroups with tighter customs and/or monetary unions of their own:

These pillars and their corresponding subgroups are as follows:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Pillars
! Subgroups
|-
| [[Community of Sahel-Saharan States]] (CEN-SAD)
|
|-
| [[Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa]] (COMESA)
|
|-
| [[East African Community]] (EAC)
|
|-
| [[Economic Community of Central African States]] (ECCAS/CEEAC)
| [[Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa]] (CEMAC)
|-
| [[Economic Community of West African States]] (ECOWAS)
| [[West African Economic and Monetary Union]] (UEMOA)<br>
[[West African Monetary Zone]] (WAMZ)
|-
| [[Intergovernmental Authority on Development]] (IGAD)
|
|-
| [[Southern African Development Community]] (SADC)
| [[Southern African Customs Union]] (SACU) <br> [[Common Monetary Area]] (CMA)
|-
| [[Arab Maghreb Union]] (UMA)
|
|}

=== Pillar membership ===
{{legend|lightgreen|member states; year of joining}}
{{legend|#faa|member states; year of joining; cooperation in the framework of the bloc stalled}}
{{legend|orange|candidate states; year of application}}

{|
|-
| valign=top |
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1px;"
|-
! [[Community of Sahel-Saharan States|CEN-SAD]]
|-
| bgcolor=#ffaaaa valign=top | '''Founding states (1998):'''
* {{BFA}}
* {{CHA}}
* {{LBA}}
* {{MLI}}
* {{NIG}}
* {{SUD}}
'''Joined later:'''
* 1999: {{CAF}}
* 1999: {{ERI}}
* 2000: {{DJI}}
* 2000: {{GAM}}
* 2000: {{SEN}}
* 2001: {{EGY}}
* 2001: {{MAR}}
* 2001: {{NGA}}
* 2001: {{SOM}}
* 2001: {{TUN}}
* 2002: {{BEN}}
* 2002: {{TOG}}
* 2004: {{CIV}}
* 2004: {{GNB}}
* 2004: {{LBR}}
* 2005: {{GHA}}
* 2005: {{SLE}}
* 2007: {{COM}}
* 2007: {{GIN}}
* 2008: {{KEN}}
* 2008: {{MRT}}
* 2008: {{STP}}
* 2009: {{CPV}}
|}
| valign=top |
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1px;"
|-
! [[Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa|COMESA]]
|-
| bgcolor=lightgreen | '''Founding states (1994):'''
* {{BDI}}
* {{COM}}
* {{DRC}}
* {{DJI}}
* {{ERI}}
* {{ETH}}
* {{KEN}}
* {{MAD}}
* {{MWI}}
* {{MRI}}
* {{RWA}}
* {{SUD}}
* {{SWZ}}
* {{UGA}}
* {{ZAM}}
* {{ZIM}}
'''Joined later:'''
* 1999: {{EGY}}
* 2001: {{SEY}}
* 2005: {{LBA}}
* 2018: {{TUN}}
* 2018: {{SOM}}
|-
| colspan=2 |'''Former members:'''
* 1994-1997: {{LES}}
* 1994-1997: {{MOZ}}
* 1994-2001: {{TAN}}
* 1994-2004: {{NAM}}
* 1994-2007: {{AGO}}<ref name=GlobalDialogue>{{cite web|title=SADC, COMESA and the EAC: Conflicting regional and trade agendas|publisher=Institute for Global Dialogue|date=October 2008|url=http://www.igd.org.za/publications/occasional-papers/item/download/32|access-date=7 May 2011|archive-date=1 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101010403/http://www.igd.org.za/publications/occasional-papers/item/download/32|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=NewVision>{{cite web|title=African integration is great but has its hurdles|publisher=New Vision|date=26 May 2010|url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/20/720784|access-date=7 May 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619083954/http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/20/720784|archive-date=19 June 2010}}</ref>
|}
| valign=top |
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1px;"
|-
! [[East African Community|EAC]]
|-
| bgcolor=lightgreen| '''Founding states (2001):'''
* {{KEN}}
* {{TAN}}
* {{UGA}}
'''Joined later:'''
* 2007: {{BDI}}
* 2007: {{RWA}}
* 2016: {{SSD}}
* 2022: {{DRC}}
|}
<br/>
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1px;"
|-
! [[Economic Community of West African States|ECOWAS]]
|-
| bgcolor=lightgreen | '''Founding states (1975):'''
* {{BEN}} <sup>UEMOA-94</sup>
* {{BFA}} <sup>UEMOA-94</sup>
* {{CIV}} <sup>UEMOA-94</sup>
* {{GAM}} <sup>WAMZ-00</sup>
* {{GHA}} <sup>WAMZ-00</sup>
* {{GUI}} <sup>WAMZ-00</sup>
* {{GNB}} <sup>UEMOA-97</sup>
* {{LBR}} <sup>WAMZ-10</sup>
* {{MLI}} <sup>UEMOA-94</sup>
* {{NIG}} <sup>UEMOA-94</sup>
* {{NGA}} <sup>WAMZ-00</sup>
* {{SEN}} <sup>UEMOA-94</sup>
* {{SLE}} <sup>WAMZ-00</sup>
* {{TOG}} <sup>UEMOA-94</sup>
'''Joined later:'''
* 1977: {{CPV}}
|-
|'''Former members:'''
* 1975-1999: {{MTN}}
|-
| {{smalldiv|UEMOA-94: [[West African Economic and Monetary Union|UEMOA]] state from 1994<br>
UEMOA-97: [[West African Economic and Monetary Union|UEMOA]] state from 1997<br>
WAMZ-00: [[West African Monetary Zone|WAMZ]] state from 2000<br>
WAMZ-10: [[West African Monetary Zone|WAMZ]] state from 2010}}
|}
|}

{|
|-
| valign=top |
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1px;"
|-
! [[Economic Community of Central African States|ECCAS]]
|-
| bgcolor=lightgreen| '''Founding states (1985):'''
* {{BDI}}
* {{CMR}} <sup>CEMAC-99</sup>
* {{CAF}} <sup>CEMAC-99</sup>
* {{CHA}} <sup>CEMAC-99</sup>
* {{flag|Congo}} <sup>CEMAC-99</sup>
* {{flag|DR Congo}}
* {{EQG}} <sup>CEMAC-99</sup>
* {{GAB}} <sup>CEMAC-99</sup>
* {{RWA}} <sup>withdrawn 2007<ref name=GlobalDialogue/>-2016<ref name=TheEastAfrican2>{{cite web|url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/Rwanda--back-to-Central-Africa-bloc-10-years-on-/2558-3352178-nsmc6b/index.html|title=Rwanda back to Central Africa bloc, 10 years on|first1=Ivan R.|last1=Mugisha|date=2010-08-20|website=theeastafrican.co.ke|access-date=2017-10-04}}</ref></sup>
* {{STP}}
'''Joined later:'''
* 1999: {{AGO}}
|-
| <small>CEMAC-99: [[Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa|CEMAC]] state from 1999</small>
|}
| valign=top |
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1px;"
|-
! [[Intergovernmental Authority on Development|IGAD]]
|-
| bgcolor=#ffaaaa valign=top | '''Founding states (1986):'''
* {{DJI}}
* {{ETH}}
* {{KEN}}
* {{SOM}}
* {{SUD}}
* {{UGA}}
'''Joined later:'''
* 1993: {{ERI}}
* 2011: {{SSD}}
|}
<br/>
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1px;"
|-
! [[Arab Maghreb Union|UMA]]<sup>1</sup>
|-
| bgcolor=#ffaaaa valign=top | '''Founding states (1989):'''
* {{ALG}}
* {{LBA}}
* {{MTN}}
* {{MAR}}
* {{TUN}}
|}
| valign=top |
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1px;"
|-
! [[Southern African Development Community|SADC]]
|-
| bgcolor=lightgreen | '''Founding states (1980):'''
* {{AGO}}
* {{BOT}} <sup>SACU-70</sup>
* {{LES}} <sup>SACU-70</sup>
* {{MWI}}
* {{MOZ}}
* {{SWZ}} <sup>SACU-70</sup>
* {{TAN}}
* {{ZAM}}
* {{ZIM}}
'''Joined later:'''
* 1990: {{NAM}} <sup>SACU-90</sup>
* 1990: {{RSA}} <sup>SACU-70</sup>
* 1995: {{MRI}}
* 1997: {{flag|DR Congo}}
* 1997: {{SEY}} <sup>withdrawn 2004-2007</sup>
* 2005: {{MAD}}
|-
| {{smalldiv|SACU-70: [[Southern African Customs Union|SACU]] state from 1970<br>
SACU-90: [[Southern African Customs Union|SACU]] state from 1990}}
|}
|}

<small><sup>1</sup> The UMA ([[Arab Maghreb Union]]) does not participate in the AEC so far, because of opposition by [[Morocco]]</small>

==== Interlocking relationships ====
{{Supranational African Bodies}}
Venn diagrams illustrating interlocking relationship overlaps:
{|
| valign=top |
[[File:RECs of the AEC.svg|thumb|347px|REC pillars of the African Economic Community.
{{legend|#691717|[[:en:Community of Sahel-Saharan States|CEN-SAD]]}}
{{legend|#4F4FB1|[[:en:Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa|COMESA]]}}
{{legend|#E88356|[[:en:East African Community|EAC]]}}
{{legend|#272759|[[:en:Economic Community of Central African States|ECCAS]]}}
{{legend|#C43C7F|[[:en:Economic Community of West African States|ECOWAS]]}}
{{legend|#4DB34D|[[:en:Intergovernmental Authority on Development|IGAD]]}}
{{legend|#D22E2E|[[:en:Southern African Development Community|SADC]]}}
{{legend|#7E8000|[[:en:Arab Maghreb Union|UMA]]}}
]]
| valign=top |
[[File:Active RECs of the AEC.svg|thumb|347px|Active REC pillars of the African Economic Community.
{{legend|#4F4FB1|[[:en:Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa|COMESA]]}}
{{legend|#E88356|[[:en:East African Community|EAC]]}}
{{legend|#272759|[[:en:Economic Community of Central African States|ECCAS]]}}
{{legend|#C43C7F|[[:en:Economic Community of West African States|ECOWAS]]}}
{{legend|#D22E2E|[[:en:Southern African Development Community|SADC]]}}
]]
|-
|}
{{Clear}}

=== Other blocs ===
[[File:Other trade blocks in Africa.svg|thumb|300x300px|Other trade blocs in Africa not part of the African Economic Community.
{{legend|#008000|[[:en:Council of Arab Economic Unity#Greater Arab Free Trade Area|GAFTA]]}}
{{legend|#008080|[[:en:Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries|CEPGL]]}}
{{legend|#800080|[[:en:Indian Ocean Commission|COI]]}}
{{legend|#00FFFF|[[:en:Liptako–Gourma Authority|LGA]]}}
{{legend|#FF00FF|[[:en:Mano River Union|MRU]]}}
]]

Other African regional blocs, not participating in the AEC framework (many of them predating AEC) are:

* [[Council of Arab Economic Unity#Greater Arab Free Trade Area|Greater Arab Free Trade Area]] (GAFTA) (an organization of most [[Middle East]]ern states, including those outside Africa)
* [[Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries]] (CEPGL)
* [[Indian Ocean Commission]] (COI)
* [[Liptako–Gourma Authority]] (LGA)
* [[Mano River Union]] (MRU)

Their membership is as follows:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! [[Council of Arab Economic Unity#Greater Arab Free Trade Area|GAFTA]] <sup>1</sup>
! [[Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries|CEPGL]]
! [[Indian Ocean Commission|COI]]
! [[Liptako–Gourma Authority|LGA]]
! [[Mano River Union|MRU]]
|-
| bgcolor="lightgreen" valign=top | '''2005 membership:'''
*{{EGY}}
*{{LBY}}
*{{MAR}}
*{{SUD}}
*{{TUN}}
'''Joined later:'''
*2009:{{ALG}}
| bgcolor=#ffaaaa valign=top | '''1976 membership:'''
* {{BDI}}
* {{flag|DR Congo}}
* {{RWA}}
| bgcolor="lightgreen" valign=top | '''1984 membership:'''
* {{COM}}
* {{MAD}}
* {{MRI}}
* {{SEY}}
| bgcolor=#ffaaaa valign=top | '''1970 membership:'''
* {{BFA}}
* {{MLI}}
* {{NIG}}
| bgcolor="lightgreen" valign=top | '''1973 membership:'''
* {{LBR}}
* {{SLE}}
'''Joined later:'''
* 1980: {{GUI}}
* 2008: {{flag|Ivory Coast}}
|}

<small><sup>1</sup> Only African [[Council of Arab Economic Unity#Greater Arab Free Trade Area|GAFTA]] members are listed. <br>
[[Council of Arab Economic Unity#Greater Arab Free Trade Area|GAFTA]] and [[Mano River Union|MRU]] are the only blocs not currently stalled.</small>

==African Free Trade Zone==
{{Main|African Free Trade Zone}}
The African Free Trade Zone (AFTZ) was announced on Wednesday October 22, 2008 by the heads of [[Southern African Development Community]] (SADC), the [[Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa]] (COMESA) and the [[East African Community]] (EAC).

In May 2012 the idea was extended to also include ECOWAS, ECCAS and AMU.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120825063052/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-05/26/c_123195304.htm Africa free trade zone in operation by 2018]</ref>

== See also ==
* [[African Economic Outlook]]
* [[Economy of Africa]]
* [[Economy of the African Union]]
* [[CARICOM Single Market and Economy]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Sources ==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090416122800/http://www.africasia.com/africanbusiness/ab.php?ID=890&back_month=57 A single African currency in our time?]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20111030022320/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5i0GmLiOhihzyOZ4WZrjTghlGPosQ African leaders agree to form single market]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120415004713/http://www.africa-union.org/ African Union Official Website]
*[http://www.dfa.gov.za/au.nepad/recs.htm South African webpage on RECs]
*[http://www.panafricanperspective.com/aec.htm Pan-African Perspective]
{{African Union}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:African Union]]
[[Category:Economy of the African Union]]
[[Category:Regional Economic Communities of the African Union]]
[[Category:Special economic zones]]
[[Category:Trade blocs]]
[[Category:1991 in economic history]]
[[Category:Establishments in Africa]]