Political Challenges to Regional Integration in Africa: The Case of IGAD Region

Abstract

The researchexamines the political challenges of regional integration in the sub region of Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). Political and Economic integration has been part of African strategy to overcome fragmentation and improve the region and ultimately the continent’s position in the global political economy. Political and economic integration are closely related Varied theories thatinclude Neo-functionalism, Inter-governmentalism, Custom Union theory, Optimal Currency theory, and International Political Economyare in the literature.Thestudy using desktop research approach has assessed the political challenges for regional integration in the IGAD region. The major challenges are political(lack of supra nationalism, lack of political will, security), structural(weak institution, over lapping membership, lack of a proper managing of relations among member states)and also economic (low level of development)and social challenges (poverty, unemployment and inequality). Theregionalintegration process in the IGAD region is still at lower level due to bad governance, intra and interstate conflicts, civil wars, and intervention from superpowers. Thestudy stresses that if actual and sustainable regional integration is to advance, IGAD needs tobe strong and impartial enough tointerveneeffectivelyinthe governance matters of member states.