Abstract:
: The purpose of this study is to assess the role of regional integration in promoting peace and security in Africa. It was conducted in the Economic Commission of Central African States (ECCAS) as a case study with the following specific objectives: To find out the challenges to peace and security in ECCAS, to examine the impact of regional integration on peace and security in ECCAS members, and to identify various strategies introduced by ECCAS to promote peace and security. This study used only secondary data to assess the relationship between regional integration in ECCAS and peace and security. To obtain secondary data, books, online books, articles, reports, conference papers, journals, and other research related to ECCAS were reviewed. The study found that there are some challenges to regional integration and the promotion of peace and security. For example, it found that some states are not sufficiently committed to regional peace and security policies. In addition, some states have failed to resolve wars between tribes within their borders. It was also noted that lack of resources and training is one of the challenges to peace and security in ECCAS. In addition, regional integration was found to have the following impacts on peace and security: strengthening of national peacekeeping bodies through regional cooperation, financial support for members to maintain peace and security, and easy access to support from non-member states in times of crisis. In addition, this study found that ECCAS has introduced several measures to promote peace and security in Central African states, including COPAX (Peace and Security Council for Central Africa). To assist COPAX in achieving its objectives, MARAC (Multinational Peacekeeping Force in Central Africa) and the Early Warning, Monitoring, and Surveillance System for Central Africa were established.
|