It has become imperative for Africa to map out a strategy of regional cooperation and integration and lay the foundation for sustainable development. The establishment of the African Union (replacing the Organization of African Unity) is a step in that direction. It aims at achieving greater unity and solidarity and accelerating the political and socio-economic integration of the continent. Furthermore, the New African Initiative and the New Partnership for Africa's Development, call for reforms in the relations between Africa and the international community, especially the highly industrialised countries, to overcome the development chasm. This paper focuses on the efforts made towards African unity and building deeper regional integration schemes.
