The United Regions of Africa (URA)!

Making the case for regional integration in Africa (creating five fully integrated provinces of the URA by 2030)!

Given Africa’s expansive size and diversity of ethnic groupings and cultures, the best approach for the continent to achieve ultimate unity is to start at a regional level to implement the following bold policies:

• Complete elimination of former colonial national borders between member states within each region, with current countries to form new provinces of the regions! The region to elect a governor of the region, with each province having a mayor, as in a federal government system! The AU to become the new national/central government with its Chair to be elected the continents President post 2030! With the political administrative headquarters in Addis Ababa.
• Establishment of four financial capitals namely in South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt and Kenya with the central region integrating into the EAC’s financial administration. The integration of the capital markets would be on the four main exchanges in these respective countries ensuring complete regional coverage for West, North, East and Southern regions by 2030.
• Single African passport (including visa-free African travel all over Africa)!
• Single African currency (to facilitate intra-regional and continental trade), to be implemented by 2030, to be launched on the back of or in parallel with a potential BRICs currency!
• Single regional political administration, with a regional Governor born out of the current regional economic blocks (ECOWAS, EAC, SADC, AMU, CEN-SAD etc., with a complete mandate review)! The regional economic blocks seem to have lacked a cohesive and integrated strategy that is driving towards ultimate unification, without some form of political integration. Some see them being exploited by western powers as has been observed in ECOWAS who announced the intention to introduce a single currency the ‘ECO’ by 2020, however various delays have seen this pushed out to 2027. There were also reports that France attempted to hijack the process and take it over to replace the CFA Franc.

The African Regional Economic Communities (RECs) were established as part of the African Union’s efforts to promote regional integration, cooperation, and economic development on the continent. These RECs serve as building blocks for the African Union’s broader goal of achieving African economic integration and unity.

The RECs were established by member states of the African Union and are primarily driven by the respective countries in each region. The establishment of these communities was a gradual process, often involving negotiations, agreements, and collaboration among neighboring countries with shared economic, social, and geographical interests.

Each REC has its own specific history, goals, and structure. Some of the notable RECs include:

1. Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS): Established in 1975 to promote economic integration and cooperation among West African countries.
2. East African Community (EAC): Initially established in 1967 but later dissolved, it was revived in 2000 to enhance regional cooperation and integration among East African countries.
3. Southern African Development Community (SADC): Founded in 1980 to promote economic development, peace, and security in southern Africa.
4. Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA): Established in 1994 to promote economic integration and development in Eastern and Southern Africa.
5. Arab Maghreb Union (UMA): Established in 1989 to promote economic and political integration among North African countries. However, it has faced challenges and has not been fully functional.

The establishment and effectiveness of these RECs vary based on political will, economic interests, and the commitment of member states. The African Union plays a role in coordinating and supporting the activities of these RECs to ensure greater continental integration and development.

Africa is commonly divided into five main regions:

1. Northern Africa: This region includes countries located along the northern coast of Africa, such as Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco.
2. Western Africa: Encompassing the western part of the continent, this region includes countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, and Mali.
3. Central Africa: This region is located in the central part of the continent and includes countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Chad.
4. Eastern Africa: Countries in this region include Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, and Somalia. It covers the eastern coast of the continent.
5. Southern Africa: This region includes countries in the southernmost part of Africa, like South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, and Botswana.

These regions are not strict political or geographical divisions, but they help provide a general sense of the different parts of the continent with distinct cultural, historical, and geographical characteristics.

As of September 2021, the approximate population figures for each of Africa’s five main regions are listed below. Keep in mind that these numbers are subject to change over time due to birth rates, migration, and other demographic factors.

1. Northern Africa: Approximately 200 million people.
2. Western Africa: Approximately 400 million people.
3. Central Africa: Approximately 150 million people.
4. Eastern Africa: Approximately 450 million people.
5. Southern Africa: Approximately 180 million people.

Please note that these figures are rough estimates and can vary depending on the source and the specific countries included in each region. For the most up-to-date and accurate population data, I recommend referring to recent demographic studies or official census reports.

The main languages spoken in each of Africa’s five main regions:

1. Northern Africa:

• Arabic is widely spoken across this region due to historical and cultural ties.
• Berber languages are also spoken in areas like Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.

2. Western Africa:

• English and French are the official languages in many countries due to colonial history.
• Local languages like Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, and Wolof are widely spoken.

3. Central Africa:

• French is commonly spoken due to colonial history in countries like Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, and Central African Republic.
• Local languages like Lingala, Kikongo, and Swahili are also prevalent.

4. Eastern Africa:

• Swahili is a widely spoken lingua franca in this region, used in countries like Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
• Amharic is the official language of Ethiopia.
• Other languages like Somali, Oromo, and various Nilotic languages are spoken.

5. Southern Africa:

• English is often spoken as a second language due to colonial influence in countries like South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Zambia.
• Afrikaans is spoken in South Africa and Namibia.
• Local languages like Zulu, Xhosa, and Sotho are widely spoken.

These language distributions can vary within countries, and there are often multiple languages spoken within each region due to the diversity of cultures and ethnic groups present.

Conclusion

The EAC appears to be leading the way in terms of achieving regional integration among the current regional economic blocks. The EAC has successfully eliminated all non-trade barriers, EAC members can travel visa-free in EAC countries, EAC member states appear to all share similar cultural heritage and most speak Swahili, the EAC has muted implementing a single currency in the region to facilitate intra-regional trade. This is a shining example for the rest of the continent on how to achieve regional integration! The video in the link below illustrates just how they are doing it!