Ubuntu And Regional Governance in Africa: Assessing the Role of Ubuntu Philosophy in Promoting Regional Integration, Peace and Cooperation

The study is driven by the need to explore African-centred perspectives on regional governance in response to persistent challenges such as political instability, limited regional cooperation and competing national interests that hinder deeper continental integration. Within this context, Ubuntu philosophy, with its emphasis on human interconnectedness, mutual responsibility, dialogue and collective well-being, offers a relevant philosophical foundation for addressing these challenges. Therefore, this study examines the role of Ubuntu philosophy in promoting regional integration, peace and cooperation in Africa. It adopts a qualitative research approach based entirely on secondary data, including scholarly literature, African Union policies, Regional Economic Community frameworks and documented African experiences. The study is guided by the Ubuntu/Communitarian theoretical perspective, which holds that individual and collective well-being are closely connected to shared responsibilities and harmonious coexistence. The findings revealed that the Ubuntu approach has the potential to promote regional integration through shared identity and interconnectedness, peace through dialogue and reconciliation, and cooperation through solidarity and mutual responsibility. Nevertheless, Ubuntu remains largely expressed as a philosophical and normative principle rather than being systematically embedded in the institutions and practices of African regional governance. The study, therefore, recommends that Ubuntu be understood not merely as an African cultural philosophy but also as a potential governance resource. Its principles can complement existing regional institutions and contribute to the African Union's vision of an integrated, peaceful and people-driven Africa. The study concludes that mainstreaming Ubuntu principles into regional governance can help build a more integrated, peaceful, cooperative and people-centred Africa. It recommends that the African Union and Regional Economic Communities should incorporate Ubuntu principles such as solidarity, dialogue, reciprocity, mutual responsibility and reconciliation into regional policies, peacebuilding programmes and decision-making processes.