The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), based in Djibouti, was created in 1996 to supersede the Intergovernmental Authority on Drought and Development (IGADD) which was founded in 1986. The IGAD Mission is to assist and complement the efforts of the Member States to achieve, through increased cooperation in the areas of food security and environmental protection, promotion and maintenance of peace and security and humanitarian affairs and, economic cooperation and integration.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC), based in Gaborone, Botswana, started as Frontline States whose objective was political liberation of Southern Africa. SADC, launched in 1992, was preceded by the Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC), which was formed in Lusaka, Zambia on 1^st April 1980 with the adoption of the Lusaka Declaration (Southern Africa: Towards Economic Liberation).

The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), based in Libreville, Gabon, was established on 18^th October 1983 by merging Central African Customs and Economic Union (UCEAC) and the Economic Community of the Great Lakes States (CEPGL). Sao Tomé & Principe and Angola became full members in 1999. Rwanda resumed full membership in 2002. ECCAS became operational in 1985. The over-arching objective of the Community is to establish a trade system between the Member Countries free of customs, administrative and other obstacles and to achieve economic integration.

The East African Community (EAC), based in Arusha, Tanzania, is the Regional Intergovernmental Organisation of five East African Nations. The Treaty for Establishment of the East African Community was signed on 30^th November 1999 and entered into force on 7^th July 2000 following its ratification by the original three Partner States – Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The Republics of Rwanda and Burundi acceded to the EAC Treaty on 18^th June 2007 and became full members of the Community with effect from 1^st July 2007.

The Community of Sahel-Saharan States CEN-SAD, based in Tripoli, Libya, is a framework for integration and complementarity. Its vision is to work, together with the other Regional Economic Communities and the African Union, to strengthen peace, security and stability and achieve global economic and social development. CEN-SAD was established on 4^th February 1998 following the Conference of Leaders and Heads of States held in Tripoli, Libya.

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, based in Lusaka, Zambia, was founded in 1993 as a successor to the Preferential Trade Area for Eastern and Southern Africa (PTA), which was established in 1981. COMESA's Vision is to be a fully integrated, internationally competitive Regional Economic Community with high standards of living for all of its people ready to merge into an African Economic Community.

 Arab Maghreb Union, based in Rabat, Morocco, is a Regional Inter-governmental Union of the five Maghreb Countries in Northern Africa, which was created in 1989 in Marrakesh (Morocco).