INTRODUCTION.

In "From Pan-Africanism to African Regionalism: A Chronicle," Ernest Toochi Aniche

examines the evolution of African political thought. Aniche's essay, which was published in
2020 during discussions about Pan-African ideals and regional integration, chronicles the
history of cooperation and unity in Africa. He starts out by going over the three tenets of pan-
Africanism: self-determination, emancipation, and unity. Aniche views regionalism as a
strategic development motivated by the difficulties facing recently independent African
countries, rather than a departure from Pan-African objectives. In addition to examining how
global power dynamics and economic variables impact African regionalism, he highlights the
necessity of regional cooperation in order to effectively solve shared concerns. The intricacies
of African unification and the requirement for flexible tactics are brought to light by Aniche's
study. We hope to evaluate Aniche's claims, look through the supporting documentation, and
comprehend the significance for the history of pan-Africanism through this review. Analyzing
Aniche's work improves our comprehension of current regionalism debates as well as African
political theory.

SUMMARY.

This article provides a concise overview of African regionalism, tracing its roots to the pan-
Africanist philosophies of leaders like Kwame Nkrumah and Julius Nyerere. It highlights key
historical phases, including pre-colonial cooperation, colonial-era struggles, and post-
independence integration efforts. Despite significant milestones such as the establishment of
the OAU and AU, challenges to integration persist, prompting diverse scholarly perspectives
ranging from pessimism to optimism. The paper's objective is to analyze the historical
context of pan-Africanism and regionalism, assess integration progress, and offer
recommendations. Overall, it portrays African regionalism as a complex and evolving
phenomenon with both historical significance and contemporary relevance.

Tracing the evolution of African integration from early phases of Islamization and Arab
colonialism to modern pan-Africanism and post-colonialism, it highlights initiatives like
diaspora pan-Africanism and the formation of organizations such as the OAU and AU, as
well as regional economic communities. Despite early attempts at integration, challenges
persist, prompting the need for a paradigm shift. Critiquing traditional theories, the text
proposes a new phase of African integration, emphasizing security concerns, economic
nationalism, and private sector involvement.
The 1979 Monrovia Strategy and subsequent 1980 Lagos Plan of Action (LPA) were pivotal
in accelerating African regionalism during the era of modern pan-Africanism and post-
colonialism. Emphasizing economic self-reliance, industrialization, and intra-African trade,
the Monrovia Declaration laid the foundation for the comprehensive development agenda
outlined in the Lagos Plan of Action. This initiative, often called Africa's economic Magna
Carta, advocated for indigenous control over resources and set forth a phased approach to
establishing the African Economic Community (AEC). The AEC, established through the
1991 Abuja Treaty, aimed to foster economic, social, and cultural integration across the
continent, with multiple regional blocs forming its pillars. The ongoing establishment of the
African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) underscores Africa's commitment to deeper
economic integration and unity.

The journey of Pan-African integration, though promising, faces significant challenges.

Envisioned as a means to unlock Africa's vast development potential and reduce dependence
on external aid, regional economic integration across the continent has struggled to
materialize fully. Despite the establishment of regional blocs, progress towards key
integration goals, such as the creation of customs unions and single markets, has been slow.
Intra-African trade remains remarkably low, hindered by trade barriers, inadequate
infrastructure, and complex regulatory environments. Moreover, underlying challenges such
as neo-colonial ties, political differences, and reliance on primary exports persist, thwarting
efforts towards genuine self-reliance and development. Thus, while the vision of Pan-African
integration holds immense promise, overcoming these obstacles remains a formidable task on
the continent's journey towards economic unity and prosperity.

CRITIQUE

From the complex dynamics of pre-colonial regional cooperation to the rise of modern Pan-
Africanism and post-colonial integration initiatives, the study of African integration spans
multiple historical stages (Eniche, 2020). The articles author offers a thorough analysis of
these historical shifts, illuminating the challenges and complexity African regionalism faced
over time. Eniche's article, however, falls short of providing a thorough examination of the
Casablanca and Monrovia groups, which were crucial in forming the initial African
integration initiatives (Basiru et al., 2018).
Basiru et al. (2018) underscore the significance of these early integration initiatives in
shaping the trajectory of African regionalism. However, Eniche's talk fails to adequately
explore the complexities and historical context surrounding the Casablanca and Monrovia
groups, missing an opportunity to provide a nuanced understanding of their contributions to
African integration efforts. A more comprehensive analysis would involve examining the
ideological differences, geopolitical factors, and external influences that influenced the
formation and outcomes of these groups. Additionally, exploring the legacy of the Casablanca
and Monrovia groups in contemporary African integration discourse could shed further light
on their enduring relevance and impact

For those who have no context of the two groups, it would make things difficult to
understand. By providing a bit of a history the author would have greatly enhanced the
article. For instance, Basiru, Salawu and Adepoju (2018) explain how Nkrumah's vision of a
political kingdom as the road to a free continent, combined with his advocacy for the concept
of a union government, resulted in the creation of two state groups with opposing
perspectives on African integration. The Casablanca Group, which included representatives
from Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Morocco, Libya, Egypt, and the Algerian Provisional
Government, adopted the Casablanca Charter in 1961, putting political integration ahead of
economic integration. The Monrovia group, led by Nigeria's prime minister Alhaji Tafawa
Balewa and supported by Liberian President William Tubman, advocated for a gradualist
approach to integration which preserves each state's territorial integrity and political ideology.
Efforts were made to reconcile these competing points of view, with Nigeria's prime minister
striving to unite the two blocs. Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie also played a balancing role
in this. In the end Monrovia groups views on integration succeeded and the OAU Charter was
adopted in 1963 (Basiru et al., 2018, pp. 110–112).

Basiru, Salawu, and Adepoju (2018) provide insightful background by clarifying the differing
viewpoints of these factions, which ultimately led to the 1963 approval of the OAU Charter.
Additionally, Yaduma and Khan's (2020) examination of pre-colonial regional cooperation
emphasizes the rich history of intraregional trade and economic integration in Africa. African
communities have always participated in active trading networks, transferring goods and
building connections economically over great distances (Yaduma & Khan, 2020; Eniche,
2020).
Basiru et al. (2018) underscore the significance of these early integration initiatives in
shaping the trajectory of African regionalism. However, Eniche's talk fails to adequately
explore the complexities and historical context surrounding the Casablanca and Monrovia
groups, missing an opportunity to provide a nuanced understanding of their contributions to
African integration efforts. A more comprehensive analysis would involve examining the
ideological differences, geopolitical factors, and external influences that influenced the
formation and outcomes of these groups. Additionally, exploring the legacy of the Casablanca
and Monrovia groups in contemporary African integration discourse could shed further light
on their enduring relevance and impact

Eniche’s article falls short of articulating modern impedements to African regionalism.

Okafor and Aniche (2017) elaborate on the difficulties and list a variety of barriers to intra-
African commerce. Some of these difficulties are:

1. Political Fragmentation: The continued political division of African countries is a

significant barrier to African integration. Since there are so many different political
systems, beliefs, and interests across the continent, it is difficult to come to an
agreement and work together on regional integration projects (Walther et al., 2017,
p.169).
2. Economic Disparities: Integration is severely hampered by the economic differences
between African nations. Trade, investment, and economic cooperation are impeded
by wide disparities in infrastructure, economic development, and income levels.
Moreover, differences in the distribution of resources and economic policies have the
potential to worsen inequality and obstruct initiatives to promote economic integration
(Mehretu,2019 ).
3. Institutional Weaknesses: African nations' ability to carry out regional integration
policies and initiatives is hampered by their weak institutional frameworks and
governance systems. The coherence and efficacy of integration initiatives are
weakened by insufficient legal frameworks, ineffective bureaucracies, and corruption,
which impedes the advancement of greater unity and cooperation (Dutraive,2009).
4. Security Challenges: Stability is compromised by ongoing security risks, including as
terrorism, transnational crime, and armed conflicts, which also make it difficult to
advance regional integration. Trade, investment, and mobility are all hampered by
insecurity, which exacerbates tensions and erodes confidence among African
 countries. Resolving security issues is essential to establishing trust and encouraging
cooperation in the pursuit of common regional goals (Williams, 2007, p1024).

5. Socio-Cultural Diversity: Integration is hampered by Africa's great cultural diversity,

despite it being a source of resilience and strength. Disparities in language, religion,
ethnicity, and cultural customs can exacerbate tensions and conflicts, making it more
difficult for African peoples to work together to build a sense of common identity
(Binns et al., 2012, p8)

Despite continuous attempts to foster intra-African trade and economic cooperation, these
impediments hamper the achievement of goals related to regional integration and
regionalism.

After moving from historical viewpoints to current issues, the conversation turns to the
intricacies of African economic integration (Eniche, 2020). The paper emphasizes the
necessity for creative theoretical frameworks and people-driven methods while
acknowledging the complexity of economic integration (Adedeji, 2002). However, due to a
lack of comparison analysis and empirical data, it is unable to objectively evaluate the
successes and failures of integration initiatives (Ikome, 2004).

The article also discusses the creation of regional integration programs including the Lagos
Plan, Abuja Treaty, and OAU/AU, highlighting Africa's dedication to promoting economic
unification and collaboration (Adedeji, 2002). Despite these efforts, persistent barriers like
overlapping memberships in regional economic communities have made it difficult to get
closer to attaining the goals of the African Economic Community (AEC) and have slowed
down development (Adedeji, 2002).

By addressing the noted flaws, adding stronger evidence to support the claims, and doing
empirical study, the arguments would become more credible (Ikome, 2004). Furthermore, a
more thorough examination of current initiatives, such the African Continental Free Trade
Area (AfCFTA), would enhance the conversation about the dynamics and future of African
integration (Ikome, 2007).

To sum up, the examination of African integration encompasses a story that includes past
ramifications, present difficulties, and future goals. In-depth analysis of regionalism's
complex history is provided by Eniche (2020), who provides a sophisticated perspective on
Africa's quest for prosperity and unification. A more nuanced historical perspective is
necessary, even though Eniche's research offers insightful information. This is because early
integration efforts—particularly those of the Casablanca and Monrovia groups—are not fully
discussed. Furthermore, the discussion is enhanced by Yaduma and Khan's (2020) analysis of
pre-colonial trade networks, which emphasizes Africa's tenacious history of intraregional
economic cooperation. Nonetheless, the articles as a whole highlight the significant barriers
to African integration, ranging from bureaucratic bottlenecks to regulatory discrepancies
(Okafor & Aniche, 2017). The poor progress towards the objectives of the African Economic
Community, even with the development of regional integration schemes like the OAU/AU
and the Abuja Treaty, calls for a critical appraisal of current techniques and strategies
(Adedeji, 2002).

However, despite the difficulties, there remain chances for development and rejuvenation.
Enhancing the persuasiveness of arguments and advancing a more sophisticated
comprehension of African integration dynamics can be accomplished by including stronger
supporting data, empirical research, and comparative studies (Ikome, 2004, 2007). In
addition, a more thorough examination of recent initiatives like the African Continental Free
Trade Area (AfCFTA) has the potential to promote economic unity and collaboration
throughout the continent. The conversation on African integration can change, opening the
door for a more inclusive, wealthy, and united continent of Africa, by addressing the limits
that have been recognized and welcoming chances for cooperation and creativity.
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