The Impact of Inclusive Governance Models on Strengthening Regional Integration in Africa: Insights from ASEAN, ECOWAS, and SADC

Regional integration is widely acknowledged as a strategic pathway for Africa’s socio-economic transformation, yet its progress has been hindered by weak institutional capacities, overlapping memberships, and limited citizen engagement. This article critically examines the role of inclusive governance as a catalyst for strengthening Africa’s regional integration agenda, drawing comparative insights from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The study argues that inclusive governance anchored in transparency, participation, and responsiveness offers a transformative approach that addresses persistent governance deficits within African Regional Economic Communities (RECs), particularly ECOWAS and SADC. ASEAN’s “consultative and consensus” model, despite its limitations, has demonstrated how dialogue, inclusivity, and flexible institutional arrangements can sustain cooperation among diverse states. Its emphasis on multi-stakeholder consultations, consensus-based decision-making, and adaptive network governance underscores the importance of building legitimacy and trust across member states. By contrast, African RECs often face top-down, elite-driven processes that marginalize citizens, hinder accountability, and slow down implementation of integration commitments. The analysis reveals that embedding inclusivity within Africa’s integration frameworks can significantly enhance legitimacy and collective ownership, thereby improving compliance, resource mobilization, and policy effectiveness. Practical measures such as strengthening institutional coordination, leveraging digital governance tools, and creating participatory platforms for youth, women, and marginalized groups are essential. Moreover, alignment of governance reforms with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) ensures sustainability and coherence with continental priorities.