Political and economic drivers of regional integration in Africa: a case study of the Democratic Republic of Congo

This case study examines the factors influencing the Democratic Republic of Congo's participation in multiple Regional Economic Communities, highlighting how political interests and internal economic fragmentation have hindered a coherent regional integration strategy.

• The Democratic Republic of Congo's membership in four Regional Economic Communities contributes to common African integration obstacles, including low program implementation, poor meeting attendance, and difficulties in paying subscription fees.
• The Democratic Republic of Congo's multi-community membership is driven by its strategic geography and a lack of internal interdependence, as the country's various economic poles are more integrated with neighboring economies than with the national economy.
• Low levels of regional integration for the Democratic Republic of Congo are attributed to political instability, poor industrial diversification, and the absence of a clear strategy. Integration efforts have been driven by opportunistic behavior and political interests rather than a defined economic policy, leading the country to prioritize central regional communities despite stronger economic integration in southern and eastern regions.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2012). Political and economic drivers of regional integration in Africa: a case study of the Democratic Republic of Congo. https://saiia.org.za/research/political-and-economic-drivers-of-regional-integration-in-africa-a-case-study-of-the-democratic-republic-of-congo/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Political and economic drivers of regional integration in Africa: a case study of the Democratic Republic of Congo. 2012. https://saiia.org.za/research/political-and-economic-drivers-of-regional-integration-in-africa-a-case-study-of-the-democratic-republic-of-congo/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Political and economic drivers of regional integration in Africa: a case study of the Democratic Republic of Congo |date=5 February 2012 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/political-and-economic-drivers-of-regional-integration-in-africa-a-case-study-of-the-democratic-republic-of-congo/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2012political, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Political and economic drivers of regional integration in Africa: a case study of the Democratic Republic of Congo}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2012}, month = feb, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/political-and-economic-drivers-of-regional-integration-in-africa-a-case-study-of-the-democratic-republic-of-congo/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }