Why Regional Economic Integrations of East African Countries Struggle to Succeed?

Abstract

This paper examines whether the regional economic integrations succeed in East African nations. The qualitative analysis shows that East African nations are struggling to promote intra-regional trade, economic growth, and peace and stability mainly in the Horn of Africa despite their membership under at least one regional trade agreements. Both regional and international factors contribute for the failure of regional integrations in the region. The main hindrances for the regional integration in the region are regional level including the country's export-import structure, poor infrastructural development, lack of good governance, weak democratic system, persistent drought and poverty, multiple memberships, ethnic conflict and political instability, and the dynamic and ever-increasing threat of terrorism. Thus, East African nations should help the regional integration to succeed with an advancement of the domestic economy through well-diversified export structure, expanding manufacturing sector, enlarging domestic market, buildup of democratic system, promoting private sector and civil participation, and better infrastructural developments.