Regional Economic Communities

In recent years there has been a strong global trend toward increasing regional integration in the areas of trade and investment.  Sub-Saharan Africa has a number of regional economic communities (RECs), each with similar goals of fostering cooperation and a degree of economic integration-typically as free trade areas, customs unions (free trade area with common external tariffs), or monetary unions.

Common Market for Eastern and Southern African (COMESA)

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) is the largest regional economic organization in Africa, with 19 member states and a population of about 390 million.

East African Community (EAC)

The EAC is one of the leading regional economic organizations in sub-Saharan Africa and has made great strides in recent years toward integrating the economies of its member states. It has established a free trade area and a customs union and is working toward a common market.

Southern African Customs Union (SACU)

The Southern African Customs Union (SACU), an African regional economic organization, is the world's oldest customs union, founded in 1910. Its members include Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Swaziland. The five member states maintain a common external tariff, share customs revenues, and coordinate policies and decision-making on a wide range of trade issues.

West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA)

Members of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (also known by its French acronym, UEMOA) are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo. UEMOA member countries are working toward greater regional integration with unified external tariffs.