This paper analyses the role of regional trade agreements in fostering regional integration in Africa – using information from relevant treaties
and protocols, existing literature on regionalism in Africa, as well as past studies, and the COMTRADE database. The thesis found similarity in the
nature and scope of the regional agreements in Africa, going beyond trade liberalization issues to politics, security, social and cultural issues.
Some agreements (e.g. COMESA and SADC) do not restrict members from entering into new preferential agreements; others e.g. EAC are silent
on preferential agreements. It also found increased intra-regional trade for regions that introduced customs union or free trade area. Bilateral
trade flows also happened to be higher between members of a preferential arrangement than with third countries. However, preferential
agreements with external partners, in particular, the EU seems to alter the existing relationship in regional groupings as they strive to
incorporate new set of issues in their integration agenda – competition policy, intellectual properties rights, labour standards, etc. These,
together with potential trade deflection and new barriers created by EPA configurations that are not coterminous with existing regional
groupings are likely to affect the pace and success of ongoing regional initiatives in Africa.