United states of Africa?

When realised, the single trade bloc and customs union that the leaders envisage would stretch from South Africa to Egypt and from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Kenya, encompassing a population of over 527 million and a combined GDP of US$ 624 billion. Spanning 26 countries, the new regional economic community would be just one member shy of the world's largest economic community, the EU.

Work on the matter will begin immediately. The leaders have given a special taskforce six months to develop a roadmap for the creation of the free trade area and the merger of the regional economic communities.

The leaders also asked the three economic bodies to prepare a timetable for integration; to examine the legal and institutional framework that would be necessary to underpin the free trade agreement; and to develop measures to facilitate the movement of businesspersons across the regional trade blocs.

The three regional economic communities agreed to approve a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of the free trade area within six months. That document would then be up for signature by the chairs of each of the coalitions.

This tripartite arrangement is considered a crucial building bloc towards the attainment of an African Economic Community, which was first envisaged in the Treaty of Abuja in 1991. Many say that the move toward greater integration is long overdue, and that it will be a big step forward for Africa's economic development.

Analysts say that the merger of the three main trade groups will boost inter-Africa trade by creating larger markets and more opportunities for economies of scale. Trade within the continent - which accounts for only 2 percent of global trade - is considered an underexploited growth area for Africa. Although the current global financial crisis is expected to dampen growth worldwide, Africa, the world's poorest continent, is forecast to be relatively sheltered from the fallout.

Moreover, the deal is expected to strengthen Africa's voice on the world stage. "By coming together, the member states will have a strong voice in advancing our interests on the international scene," said South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, reported the BBC.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni concurred: "The greatest enemy of Africa, the greatest source of weakness has been disunity and a low level of political and economic integration," reported the BBC.

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