East African Economic Integration

Abstract

In 1961, a Nigerian newspaper commented, with reference to the economic integration of East Africa, ‘these three States have stolen a march on the older African States. They have achieved one of the main objectives of pan-African nationalism, without tears.’1 Two years later the leaders of Tanganyika, Uganda, and Kenya announced their intention of going beyond economic integration by forming a federation. If this comes about, economic integration will have led to political integration, but at the same time Africa will be deprived of a chance of testing the viability of economic and administrative unions that stop short of federation. Whatever the outcome, the experience of East Africa will be of great importance, not only to African leaders concerned with the economic development of relatively small States, but also to economic and political theorists.