The Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in Africa are closely integrated with the AU. They serve as its building blocks and their relationship is mandated by the Abuja Treaty and the AU Constitutive Act. Their relationship is guided by protocol and memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the area of peace and security. There is also coordinating mechanism of the regional standby brigades of Eastern and Northern Africa. With this mechanism in place, RECs have developed individually and separately and they have various roles and structures.
Overall, the objective of the RECs is to facilitate and promote regional economic integration between member states of the individual regions. This is affected through the wider Economic Community for African (ECA), which has been established under the Abuja Treaty of 1991. This Treaty proposed the creation of RECs as the basis for wider African integration. In other words, it had the vision of regional and eventual continental integration.
The RECS are increasingly involved in coordinating the interests and objectives of the AU member states. These objectives are related to achieving peace and security, economic and social development and good governance in Africa.
The AU recognizes eight Regional Economic Communities and these are the: Arab Maghreb Union (UMA); Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA); Community of Sahel–Saharan States (CEN–SAD); East African Community (EAC); Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS); Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS); Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and Southern African Development Community (SADC). In addition to these communities, the Eastern Africa Standby Force Coordination Mechanism (EASFCOM) and North African Regional Capability (NARC) both have liaison offices at the AU.
The structure of REC has the relations with the AU that provides a coordination framework between the ECA and the Communities. The Commission also provides policy advice and oversight of implementation of decisions made. It is also tasked with coordinating and monitoring progress made by the RECs in meeting the regional integration goal.
Committee decisions are taken by consensus or, when consensus cannot be reached, by a simple majority of the members present and voting. Committee decisions are forwarded to the Executive Council as policy recommendations. The Committee prepares technical reports for consideration by the Committee on Coordination. It comprises AU Commission senior officials responsible for community affairs, as well as UNECA and AfDB senior officials.
The Committee meets at least twice a year, prior to Committee on Coordination meetings, and is chaired by the AU Commission. Committee decisions are reached by consensus or, when consensus is lacking, by simple majority vote. With these structural relations in the AU and other continental organization, Ethiopia has made great contributions.
However, due to challenges to peace and security in the region, the relationship between the AU and RECs has been under enormous pressure. They have been facing various issues that have stifled effective policy coordination and deployment of joint forces to confront the peace and security challenges. In this situation, Ethiopia has been playing a key role in resolving these challenges amicably and proactively.
The issues faced by the continental organizations included lack of shared understanding of the principles and modalities for coordination. Ethiopia has also tried to strengthen the effective coordination between the African organizations of Peace and Security Council (PSC) and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs).
The PSC joint consultation with other African bodies has shown progress in terms of regular and institutional arrangements. Attempt has been made to strengthen the relationship between PSC and RECs for policy coordination with other concerned institutions. They also made application of the principles and modalities of coordination on issues of peace and security in the African countries.
Comparative advantage refers to strategic positions held by conflicting parties during skirmishes. This situation is aggravated by lack of representation and participation in the PSC and RECs that deal with major peace and security issues. African countries engulfed with conflicts need the assistance of the PSC to regain their peace and security. They also need the economic support from the regional economic communities/RECs within their specific regions. Experts have proposes the creation of a team representing both RECs and the PSC that would facilitate a well-coordinated network for regular consultations and joint actions under the umbrella of the AU.
The mutual recognition of the importance of the respective role of the AU, RECs and PSC is very critical for the deployment of forces in countries engulfed with conflicts. These countries need the involvement of the PSC to take measures to secure peace and security for them. However, late deployment of the peacekeeping forces may result in catastrophic situations for the countries involved in conflicts.
There may be situations in which the PSC has not been warranting its engagement partly on account of lack of timely coordination and information. Experts are of the opinion that the PSC has been delaying its decisions in response to conflicts related to “unconstitutional” change of government in Africa.
Moreover, the RECs are the primary responders to crisis or conflict situations in the African regions. They are guided by the principles of comparative advantage mentioned earlier. However, if RECs exhausts its efforts without resolving the situation or fails to take swift action, then the PSC shall take over the responsibility to address conflicts or crisis. These clarifications have contributed to the shared understanding between AU, PSC and RECs.
Both the PSC and RECs have highlighted the promotion of peace, security and stability in Africa. Some of the RECs such as ECOWAS and SADC have developed functioning structures, including the establishment of policy organs and structures to deal with peace and security issues. They have demonstrated the will and the ability to deal with crisis and conflict situations arising within their jurisdictions. Though they have different approaches, they adopt similar program of actions in dealing with crisis situations.
BY GETACHEW MINAS
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 26 APRIL 2025
