Collective
self-reliance, inward-looking regionalism, and delinking from the dominant
relationships that prevailed in the international economic system in the form of regional economic integration and
cooperation were the solution identified by the Pan-African leaders
as a potential strategy for restructuring the fragmented African region into a
more coherent and viable economic space. This article interrogates
the applicability and understanding of Regional Integration within the ECCAS
Region while determining the influence Informal Cross Border Trade has had on
economic integration in this sub region. The study uses economic integration theories to analyze the
implementation of regional economic integration and its effectiveness. The
article applies a qualitative research method with a cross sectional design to
study a multilevel issue involved in regional integration. It aimed to explain
and predict phenomena based on empirical data obtained through interviews using
close structured and unstructured interview guide. The study revealed that
despite efforts to institutionalize regional integration in the ECCAS region,
structural challenges remain a significant impediment to intra-regional trade.
Informal cross-border traders consolidate what has come to be regarded as the “invisible” integration
of Africa’s economies through their involvement in a range of goods and
services, resulting in transnational networks, culture and kinship. These can
only be effective if African countries adopt a self-reliant and inward-looking
economic integration strategy.
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