Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREAMBLE

PREAMBLE

We, the Heads of State and Government of the Member States of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU);

1. The President of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria
2. The President of the People's Republic of Angola
3. The President of the Republic of Benin
4. The President of the Republic of Botswana
5. The President of the Republic of Burkina Faso
6. The President of the Republic of Burundi
7. The President of the Republic of Cameroon
8. The President of the Republic of Cape Verde
9. The President of the Central African Republic
10. The President of the Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros
11. The President of the People's Republic of Congo
12. The President of the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire
13. The President of the Republic of Djibouti
14. The President of the Arab Republic of Egypt
15. The President of the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
16. The President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea
17. The President of the Republic of Gabon
18. The President of the Republic of the Gambia
19. The President of the Republic of Ghana
20. The President of the Republic of Guinea
21. The President of the Republic of Guinea Bissau
22. The President of the Republic of Kenya
23. The King of Lesotho
24. The President of the Republic of Liberia
25. The Leader of the 1st of September Revolution of the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
26. The President of the Republic of Madagascar
27. The President of the Republic of Malawi
28. The President of the Republic of Mali
29. The President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania
30. The Prime Minister of the Republic of Mauritius
31. The President of the Republic of Mozambique
32. The President of the Republic of Namibia
33. The President of the Republic of Niger
34. The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
35. The President of the Republic of Rwanda
36. The President of Sahrawi Democratic Arab Republic
37. The President of the Republic of Sao Tome and Principe
38. The President of the Republic of Senegal
39. The President of the Republic of Seychelles
40. The President of the Republic of Sierra Leone
41. The President of the Republic of Somalia
42. The President of the Republic of the Sudan
43. The King of Swaziland
44. The President of the United Republic of Tanzania
45. The President of the Republic of Tchad
46. The President of the Republic of Togo
47. The President of the Republic of Tunisia
48. The President of the Republic of Uganda
49. The President of the Republic of Zaire
50. The President of the Republic of Zambia
51. The President of the Republic of Zimbabwe

MINDFUL of the principles of international law governing relations between States;

BEARING IN MIND the principles and objectives set forth in the Charter of the Organisation of African Unity;

CONSCIOUS of our duty to develop and utilise the human and natural resources of the Continent for the general well-being of our peoples in all fields of human endeavour;

RECOGNIZING the various factors which hinder the development of the Continent and seriously jeopardise the future of its peoples;

HAVING REGARD to the various resolutions and declarations adopted by our Assembly in Algiers in September 1968, in Addis Ababa in August 1970 and May 1973 providing that the economic integration of the Continent is a pre-requisite for the realisation of the objectives of the OAU;

HAVING REGARD to our decision taken in Libreville in July 1977 endorsing the Kinshasa Declaration adopted by our Council of Ministers in December 1976 concerning the establishment of an African Economic Community, objective to be attained in successive stages;

CONSIDERING the "Monrovia Declaration of Commitment on the Guidelines and Measures for National and Collective Self-reliance in Economic and Social Development for the Establishment of a New International Order" and which, inter-alia, calls for the Creation of an African Common Market as a prelude to an African Economic Community;

CONSIDERING FURTHER the Lagos Plan of Action and the Final Act of Lagos of April 1980 reaffirming our Commitment to establish, by the year 2000, an African Economic Community in order to foster the economic, social and cultural integration of our Continent;

FINALLY CONSIDERING our Declaration made on the occasion of the Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the OAU and, in particular, the reaffirmation of our commitment and our determination to take the necessary steps to accelerate the establishment of the proposed African Economic Community;

NOTING that the efforts already made in the sub-regional and regional sectoral economic co-operation are encouraging and justify a larger and fuller economic integration;

NOTING the need to share, in a equitable and just manner, the advantages of co-operation among Member States in order to promote a balanced development in all parts of the Continent;

Have decided to establish an African Economic Community constituting an integral part of the OAU and hereby agree as follows:

CHAPTER I

Definitions

Article 1

For the purpose of this Treaty

1. "Treaty" shall mean the present Treaty;

2. "Protocol" shall mean an instrument of implementation of the Treaty having the same legal force as the latter;

3. "Community" shall mean the organic structure for economic integration established under Article 2 of this Treaty and constituting an integral part of the OAU;

4. "Region" shall mean an OAU region as defined by Resolution CM/Res.464 QCXVI) of the OAU Council of Ministers concerning the Division of Africa into five (5) regions namely North Africa, West Africa, Central Africa, East Africa and Southern Africa;

5. "Sub-region" shall mean at least three (3) States of one or more regions as defined in paragraph 1(d) of this Article;

6. "Member States" shall mean a Member State of the Community;

7. "Third State" shall mean any State other than a Member State;

8. "Assembly" shall mean the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the OAU as provided for in Articles 7 and 8 of this Treaty,

9. "Council" shall mean the Council of Ministers of the OAU as provided for in Articles 7 and 11 of this Treaty;

10. "Pan-African Parliament" shall mean the parliamentary assembly established under Articles 7 and 14 of this Treaty;

11. "Commission" shall mean the Economic and Social Commission of the OAU as provided for under Articles 7 and 15 of this Treaty;

12. "Committee" shall mean any specialised technical committee established under Articles 7 and 25 of this Treaty or in pursuance thereof;

13. "Court of Justice" shall mean the Court of Justice of the Community constituted under Articles 7 and 18 of this Treaty;

14. "Secretariat" shall mean the General Secretariat of the OAU provided for in Articles 7 and 21 of this Treaty;

15. "Secretary-General" shall mean the Secretary-General of the OAU as provided for in Article 23 of this Treaty;

16. "Customs Duty" shall mean protective customs duties and charges having equivalent effect, levied on goods for their importation;

17. "Export Duties and Taxes" shall mean export duties and charges having equivalent effect, levied on goods for their exportation;

18. "Customs Duties and Taxes" shall mean all duties and taxes as defined in paragraphs (p) and (q) of this Article;

19. "Non-Tariff Barriers" shall mean barriers which hamper trade and which are caused by obstacles other than fiscal obstacles;

20. "Intra-Community Trade System" shall mean the system under which advantages are accorded to the goods referred to in Paragraph 1, Article 33 of this Treaty;

21. "Goods in Transit" shall mean goods being transported between two Member States or between a Member State and a third State and passing through one or more Member States;

22. "Barter Agreement" or "Compensatory Exchanges" shall mean any agreement under which goods and services imported into a Member State may be paid for in full or in part by direct exchange of goods and services;

23. "Fund" shall mean the Solidarity, Development and Compensation Fund of the Community established pursuant to Article 80 of this Treaty; and

24. "Person" shall mean a natural or legal person.

CHAPTER II

Establishment, Principles, Objectives, General Undertaking and Modalities

Article 2

Establishment of the Community

THE HIGH CONTRACTING PARTIES hereby establish among themselves an African Economic Community (AEC).

Article 3

Principles

THE HIGH CONTRACTING PARTIES, in pursuit of the objectives stated in Article 4, of this Treaty solemnly affirm and declare their adherence to the following principles:

1. Equality and inter-dependence of Member States;

2. Solidarity and collective self-reliance;

3. Inter-State co-operation, harmonisation of policies and integration of programmes;

4. Promotion of harmonious development of economic activities among Member States;

5. Observance of the legal system of the Community;

6. Peaceful settlement of disputes among Member States, active co-operation between neighbouring countries and promotion of a peaceful environment as a pre-requisite for economic development;

7. Recognition, promotion and protection of human and peoples' rights in accordance with the provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights; and

8. Accountability, economic justice and popular participation in development.

Article 4

Objectives

1. The objectives of the Community shall be:

1. To promote economic, social and cultural development and the integration of African economies in order to increase economic self-reliance and promote an endogenous and self-sustained development;

2. To establish, on a continental scale, a framework for the development, mobilisation and utilisation of the human and material resources of Africa in order to achieve a self-reliant development;

3. To promote co-operation in all fields of human endeavour in order to raise the standard of living of African peoples, and maintain and enhance economic stability, foster close and peaceful relations among Member States and contribute to the progress, development and the economic integration of the Continent; and

4. To coordinate and harmonize policies among existing and future economic communities in order to foster the gradual establishment of the Community.

2. In order to promote the attainment of the objectives of the Community as set out in paragraph I of this Article, and in accordance with the relevant provisions of this Treaty, the Community shall, by stages, ensure:

1. The strengthening of existing regional economic communities and the establishment of other communities where they do not exist;

2. The conclusion of agreements aimed at harmonising and co-ordinating policies among existing and future sub-regional and regional economic communities;

3. The promotion and strengthening of joint investment programmes in the production and trade of major products and inputs within the framework of collective self-reliance;

4. The liberalisation of trade through the abolition, among Member States, of Customs Duties levied on imports and exports and the abolition, among Member States of Non-Tariff Barriers in order to establish a free trade area at the level of each regional economic community;

5. The harmonisation of national policies in order to promote Community activities, particularly in the fields of agriculture, industry, transport and communications, energy, natural resources, trade, money and finance, human resources, education, culture, science and technology;

6. The adoption of a common trade policy vis-à-vis third States;

7. The establishment and maintenance of a common external tariff;

8. The establishment of a common market;

9. The gradual removal, among Member States, of obstacles to the free movement of persons, goods, services and capital and the right of residence and establishment;

10. The establishment of a Community Solidarity, Development and Compensation Fund;

11. The granting of special treatment to Member States classified as least developed countries and the adoption of special measures in favour of land-locked, semi-land-locked and island countries;

12. The harmonisation and rationalisation of the activities of existing African multinational institutions and the establishment of such institutions, as and when necessary, with a view to their possible transformation into organs of the Community;

13. The establishment of appropriate organs for trade in agricultural and cultural products, minerals, metals, and manufactured and semi-manufactured goods within the Community;

14. The establishment of contacts and the promotion of information flow among trading organisations such as State commercial enterprises, export promotion and marketing bodies, chambers of commerce, associations of businessmen, and business and advertising agencies;

15. The harmonisation and co-ordination of environmental protection policies; and

16. Any other activity that Member States may decide to undertake jointly with a view to attaining the objectives of the Community.

Article 5

General Undertakings

1. Member States undertake to create favourable conditions for the development of the Community and the attainment of its objectives, particularly by harmonising their strategies and policies. They shall refrain from any unilateral action that may hinder the attainment of the said objectives.

2. Each Member State shall, in accordance with its constitutional procedures, take all necessary measures to ensure the enactment and dissemination of such legislation as may be necessary for the implementation of the provisions of this Treaty.

3. Any Member State, which persistently fails to honour its general undertakings under this Treaty or fails to abide by the decisions or regulations of the Community, may be subjected to sanctions by the Assembly upon the recommendation of the Council. Such sanctions may include the suspension of the rights and privileges of membership and may be lifted by the Assembly upon the recommendation of the Council.

Article 6

Modalities for the establishment of the Community

1. The Community shall be established gradually in six (6) stages of variable duration over a transitional period not exceeding thirty-four (34) years.

2. At each such stage, specific activities shall be assigned and implemented concurrently as follows:

(a) First Stage:

Strengthening of existing regional economic communities and, within a period not exceeding five (5) years from the date of entry into force of this Treaty, establishing economic communities in regions where they do not exist;

(b) Second Stage:

1. At the level of each regional economic community and within a period not exceeding eight (ii) years, stabilising Tariff Barriers and Non-Tariff Barriers, Customs Duties and internal taxes existing at the date of entry into force of this Treaty; there shall also be prepared and adopted studies to determine the time-table for the gradual removal of Tariff Barriers and Non-Tariff Barriers to regional and intra-Community trade and for the gradual harmonisation of Customs Duties in relation to third States;

2. Strengthening of sectoral integration at the regional and continental levels in all areas of activity particularly in the fields of trade, agriculture, money and finance, transport and communications, industry and energy; and

3. Co-ordination and harmonisation of activities among the existing and future economic communities.

(c) Third Stage:

At the level of each regional economic community and within a period not exceeding ten (10) years, establishment of a Free Trade Area through the observance of the time-table for the gradual removal of Tariff Barriers and Non-Tariff Barriers to intra-community trade and the establishment of a Customs Union by means of adopting a common external tariff.

(d) Fourth Stage:

Within a period not exceeding two (2) years, co-ordination and harmonisation of tariff and non-tariff systems among the various regional economic communities with a view to establishing a Customs Union at the continental level by means of adopting a common external tariff.

(e) Fifth Stage:

Within a period not exceeding four (4) years, establishment of an African Common Market through:

1. The adoption of a common policy in several areas such as agriculture, transport and communications, industry, energy and scientific research;

2. The harmonisation of monetary, financial and fiscal policies;

3. The application of the principle of free movement of persons as well as the provisions herein regarding the rights of residence and establishment; and

4. Constituting the proper resources of the Community as provided for in paragraph 2 of Article 82 of this Treaty.

(f) Sixth Stage:

Within a period not exceeding five (5) years:

1. Consolidation and strengthening of the structure of the African Common Market, through including the free movement of people, goods, capital and services, as well as, the provisions herein regarding the rights of residence and establishment;

2. Integration of all the sectors namely economic, political, social and cultural; establishment of a single domestic market and a Pan-African Economic and Monetary Union;

3. Implementation of the final stage for the setting up of an African Monetary Union, the establishment of a single African Central Bank and the creation of a single African Currency;

4. Implementation of the final stage for the setting up of the structure of the Pan-African Parliament and election of its members by continental universal suffrage;

5. Implementation of the final stage for the harmonisation and co-ordination process of the activities of regional economic communities;

6. Implementation of the final stage for the setting up of the structures of African multi-national enterprises in all sectors; and

7. Implementation of the final stage for the setting up of the structures of the executive organs of the Community.

3. All measures envisaged under this Treaty for the promotion of a harmonious and balanced development among Member States, particularly, those relating to the formulation of multi-national projects and programmes, shall be implemented concurrently within the time period specified for the attainment of the objectives of the various stages outlined in paragraph 2 of this Article.

4. The transition from one stage to another shall be determined when the specific objectives set in this Treaty or pronounced by the Assembly for a particular stage, are implemented and all commitments fulfilled. The Assembly, on the recommendation of the Council, shall confirm that the objectives to a particular stage have been attained and shall approve the transition to the next stage.

5. Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the cumulative transitional period shall not exceed forty (40) years from the date of entry into force of this Treaty.

CHAPTER III

Organs of the Community

Article 7

Organs

1. The organs of the Community shall be:

(a) The Assembly of Heads of State and Government;

(b) The Council of Ministers;

(c) The Pan-African Parliament;

(d) The Economic and Social Commission;

(e) The Court of Justice;

(f) The General Secretariat; and

(g) The Specialised Technical Committees.

2. The Organs of the Community shall perform their duties and act within the limits of the powers conferred on them by this Treaty.

Article 8

The Assembly of Heads of State and Government

Composition and Powers

1. The Assembly shall be the supreme organ of the Community.

2. The Assembly shall be responsible for implementing the objectives of the Community.

3. To this end, it shall:

1. Determine the general policy and major guidelines of the Community, and give directives, coordinate and harmonize the economic, scientific, technical, cultural and social policies of Member States;

2. Take any action, under this Treaty, to attain the objectives of the Community;

3. Oversee the functioning of Community organs as well as the follow-up of the implementation of its objectives;

4. Prepare and adopt its rules of procedure;

5. Approve the organisational structure of the Secretariat;

6. Elect the Secretary-General, his Deputies and, on the recommendation of the Council, appoint the Financial Controller, the Accountant and the External Auditors;

7. Adopt the Staff Rules and Regulations of the Secretariat;

8. On the recommendation of the Council, take decisions and give directives concerning the regional economic communities in order to ensure the realisation of the objectives of the Community;

9. On the recommendation of the Council, approve the Community's programme of activity and budget and determine the annual contribution of each Member State;

10. Delegate to the Council the authority to take decisions in pursuance of Article 10 of this Treaty;

11. Refer any matter to the Court of Justice when it confirms, by an absolute majority vote, that a Member State or organ of the Community has not honoured any of its obligations or has acted beyond the limits of its authority or has abused the powers conferred on it by the provisions of this Treaty, by a decision of the Assembly or a regulation of the Council;

12. Request the Court of Justice, as and when necessary, to give advisory opinion on any legal question; and

13. In carrying out its function hereunder, exercise any other powers granted to it under this Treaty.

4. The Assembly shall be assisted by the Council in the performance of its duties.

Article 9

Meetings

1. The Assembly shall meet once a year in regular session. An extraordinary session may be convened by the Chairman of the Assembly or at the request of a Member State provided that such a request is supported by two-thirds of the members of the Assembly.

2. The office of the chairman shall be held every year by one of the Heads of State and Government elected by the Assembly after consultation among Member States.

Article 10

Decisions

1. The Assembly shall act by decisions.

2. Without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph (5) Article 18, decisions shall be binding on Member States and organs of the Community, as well as regional economic communities.

3. Decision shall be automatically enforceable thirty (30) days after the date of their signature by the Chairman of the Assembly, and shall be published in the official journal of the Community.

4. Unless otherwise provided in this Treaty, decision of the Assembly shall be adopted by consensus, failing that, by a two-thirds majority of Member States.

Article 11

The Council of Ministers Composition, Functions and Powers

1. The Council shall be the Council of Minister of the OAU.

2. The Council shall be responsible for the functioning and development of the Community.

3. To this end, it shall:

1. Make recommendations to the Assembly on any action aimed at attaining the objectives of the Community;

2. Guide the activities of the subordinate organs of the Community;

3. Submit to the Assembly proposals concerning programmes of activity and budget of the Community as well as the annual contribution of each Member State;

4. Propose to the Assembly the appointment of the Financial Controller, the Accountant and the External Auditors;

5. Prepare and adopt its rules of procedure;

6. Request the Court of Justice, as and when necessary, to give advisory opinion on any legal questions; and

7. Carry out all other functions assigned thereto under this Treaty and exercise all powers delegated to it by the Assembly.

Article 12

Meetings

1. The Council shall meet twice a year in Ordinary Session. One such Session shall precede the Ordinary Session of the Assembly. An extra-ordinary Session may be convened by the Chairman of the Council or at the request of a Member State provided that such request is supported by two-thirds of the members of the Council.

2. The office of the Chairman of the Council shall be held by the Minister of a Member State elected by the Council after consultations among its members.

Article 13

Regulations

1. The Council shall act by regulations.

2. Without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph (5) of Article 18 of this Treaty, such regulations shall be binding on Member States, subordinate organs of the Community and regional economic communities after their approval by the Assembly. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, regulations adopted as aforesaid shall forthwith have a binding effect in the case of delegation of powers by the Assembly pursuant to paragraph 3(j) of Article 8 hereof.

3. Regulations shall be enforceable automatically thirty (30) days after the date of their signature by the Chairman of the Council and shall be published in the official journal of the Community.

4. Unless otherwise provided in this Treaty, regulations shall be adopted by consensus or, failing that, by two-thirds majority of Member States.

Article 14

The Pan-African Parliament

1. In order to ensure that the peoples of Africa are fully involved in the economic development and integration of the Continent, there shall be established a Pan-African Parliament.

2. The composition, functions, powers and organisation of the Pan-African Parliament shall be defined in a Protocol providing thereof.

Article 15

Economic and Social Commission
Composition and Participation

1. The Commission shall be the Economic and Social Commission of the OAU.

2. The Commission shall comprise Ministers responsible for economic development, planning and integration of each Member States. They may be assisted, as and when necessary, by other Ministers.

3. Representatives of regional economic communities shall participate in meetings of the Commission and its subsidiary organs.

The modalities and conditions of their participation shall be prescribed in the protocol concerning relations between the Community and African regional and sub-regional organisations and Third States. Representatives of other organisations may also be invited to participate as observers in the deliberations of the Commission.

Article 16

Functions

The Commission shall carry out the following functions:

1. Prepare, in accordance with the Lagos Plan of Action and the Final Act of Lagos, programmes, policies and strategies for co-operation in the fields of economic and social development among African countries on the on hand, and between Africa and the International community on the other, and make appropriate recommendations to the Assembly, through the Council;

2. Coordinate, harmonize, supervise and follow-up the economic, social, cultural, scientific and technical activities of the Secretariat, of the Committees and any other subsidiary body;

3. Examine the reports and recommendations to the Assembly, through the Council, and ensure their follow-up;

4. Make recommendations to the Assembly, through the Council with a view of co-ordinating and harmonising the activities of the different regional economic communities;

5. Supervise the preparation of international negotiations, assess the results thereof and report thereon to the Assembly through the Council; and

6. Carry out all other functions assigned thereto by the Assembly or the Council.

Article 17

Meetings

1. The Commission shall meet at least once a year in Ordinary Session. It may be convened in extraordinary Session either on its own initiative or at the request of the Assembly or the Council.

2. The Ordinary Session of the Commission shall be held immediately before the Ordinary Session of the Council preceding the Session of the Assembly and at the same venue of such Session.

3. The Commission shall prepare and adopt its rules of procedure.

Article 18

Court of Justice Constitution and Functions

1. A Court of Justice of the Community is hereby constituted.

2. The Court of Justice shall ensure the adherence to law in the interpretation and application of this Treaty and shall decide on disputes submitted thereto pursuant to this Treaty

3. To this end, it shall:

1. Decide on actions brought by a Member State or the Assembly on grounds of the violation of the provisions of this Treaty, or of a decision or a regulation or on grounds of lack of competence or abuse of powers by an organ, an authority or a Member State; and

2. At the request of the Assembly or Council, give advisory opinion.

4. The Assembly may confer on the Court of Justice the power to assume jurisdiction by virtue of this Treaty over any dispute other than those referred to in paragraph 3(a) of this Article.

5. The Court of Justice shall carry out the functions assigned to it independently of the Member States and the other organs of the Community.

Article 19

Decisions of the Court

The Decisions of the Court of Justice shall be binding on Member States and organs of the Community.

Article 20

Organisation

The statutes, membership, procedures, and other matters relating to the Court of Justice shall be determined by the Assembly in a protocol relating to the Court of Justice.

Article 21

Composition General Secretariat

1. The Secretariat shall be the General Secretariat of the OAU.

2. The Secretariat shall be headed by the Secretary-General assisted by the necessary staff for the smooth functioning of the Community.

Article 22

Functions of the Secretary-General

1. The Secretary-General shall direct the activities of the Secretariat and shall be its legal representative.

2. The Secretary-General shall:

1. Follow up and ensure the implementation of the decisions of the Assembly and the application of the regulations of the Council;

2. Promote development programmes as well as projects of the Community;

3. Prepare proposals concerning the programme of activity and budget of the Community and upon their approval by the Assembly ensure the implementation thereof;

4. Submit a report on the activities of the Community to all meetings of the Assembly, the Council and the Commission;

5. Prepare and service meetings of the Assembly, the Council, the Commission and the Committees;

6. Carry out studies with a view to attaining the objectives of the Community and make proposals likely to enhance the functioning and harmonious development of the Community.

To this end, the Secretary-General may request any Member State to furnish him with all necessary information; and

7. Recruit the staff of the Community and make appointments to all posts except those referred to in paragraph 3(f) of Article 8 of this Treaty.

Article 23

Appointments

1. The Secretary-General and his assistants shall be elected by the Assembly in accordance with the relevant provisions of the OAU Charter and the rules of procedure of the Assembly.

2. The Financial Controller and the Accountant shall be appointed by the Assembly for a term of four (4) years renewable once only.

3. In the appointment of the staff of the Community, and in addition to the need to ensure high integrity and competence, consideration shall be given to equitable geographical distribution of posts among all Member States.

Article 24

Relations between the Staff of the Community and Member States

1. In the performance of their duties, the Secretary-General and his Assistants, the Financial Controller, the Accountant and the staff of the Community shall be accountable only to the Community. In this regard, they shall neither seek nor accept instructions from any Government or any national or international authority external to the Community. They shall refrain from any conduct incompatible with the nature of their status as international officers.

2. Every Member State undertakes to respect the international character of the duties of the Secretary-General, his Assistants, the Financial Controller, the Accountant and other officers of the Community and undertakes not to influence them in the performance of their duties.

3. Member States undertake to cooperate with the Secretariat and other organs of the Community and to assist them in the discharge of the functions assigned thereto under this Treaty.

Article 25

Specialised Technical Committees
Establishment and Composition

1. There is hereby established the following Committees:

1. The Committee on Rural Economy and Agricultural Matters;

2. The Committee on Monetary and Financial Affairs;

3. The Committee on Trade, Customs and Immigration Matters;

4. The Committee on Industry, Science and Technology, Energy, Natural Resources and Environment;

5. The Committee on Transport, Communications and Tourism;

6. The Committee on Health, Labour and Social Affairs; and

7. The Committee on Education, Culture and Human Resources

2. The Assembly shall, whenever it deems appropriate, restructure the existing Committees or establish other Committees.

3. Each Committee shall comprise a representative of each Member State. The representatives may be assisted by advisors.

4. Each Committee may, as it deems it necessary, set up subsidiary committees to assist the Committee in carrying out its work. It shall determine the composition of any such subsidiary Committee.

Article 26

Functions

Each Committee shall within its field of competence:

1. Prepare projects and programmes of the Community and submit them to the Commission;

2. Ensure the supervision, follow-up and the evaluation of the implementation of decisions taken by the organs of the Community;

3. Ensure the co-ordination and harmonisation of projects and programmes of the Community;

4. Submit to the Commission, either on its own initiative or at the request of the Commission, reports and recommendations on the implementation of the provisions of this Treaty; and

5. Carry out any other functions assigned to it for the purpose of ensuring the implementation of the provisions of this Treaty.

Article 27

Meetings

1. Subject to any directives given by the Commission, each Committee shall meet as often as necessary and shall prepare its rules of procedure and submit them to the Commission for approval.

CHAPTER IV

Regional Economic Communities

Article 28

Strengthening of Regional Economic Communities

1. During the first stage, Member States undertake to strengthen the existing regional economic communities and to establish new communities where they do not exist in order to ensure the gradual establishment of the Community.

2. Member States shall take all necessary measures aimed at progressively promoting increasingly closer co-operation among the communities, particularly through co-ordination and harmonisation of their activities in all fields or sectors in order to ensure the realisation of the objectives of the Community.

CHAPTER V

Customs Union and Liberalisation of Trade

Article 29

Customs Union

Member States of each regional economic community agree to progressively establish among them during a transitional period specified in Article 6 of this Treaty, a Customs Union involving:

1. The elimination, among Members States of each regional economic community, of customs duties, quota restrictions, other restrictions or prohibitions and administrative trade barriers, as well as all other non-tariff barriers; and

2. The adoption by Member States of a common external customs tariff.

Article 30

Elimination of Customs Duties Among Member States of Regional Economic Communities

1. During the second stage, Member States of each regional economic community shall refrain from establishing among themselves any new customs duties and from increasing those that apply in their mutual trade relations.

2. During the third stage, Member States shall progressively reduce and eliminate finally among themselves, at the level of each regional economic community, customs duties in accordance with such programme and modalities as shall be determined by each regional economic community.

3. During each stage, the Assembly, on the recommendation of the Council, shall take the necessary measures with a view to co-ordinating and harmonising the activities of the regional economic communities relating to the elimination of customs duties among Member States.

Article 31

Elimination of Non-Tariff Barriers to Intra-Community Trade

1. At the level of each regional economic community and subject to the provisions of the Treaty, each Member State shall, upon the entry into force of this Treaty, progressively relax and ultimately remove quota restrictions, and all other non-tariff barriers and prohibitions which apply to exports to that State, of goods originating in the other Member States, at the latest, by the end of the third stage and in accordance with paragraph (2) of this Article. Except as otherwise provided or permitted by this Treaty, each Member State shall thereafter refrain from imposing any further restrictions or prohibitions on such goods.

2. Subject to the provisions of this Treaty, each regional economic community shall adopt a programme for the progressive relaxation and ultimate elimination, at the latest by the end of the third stage, of all quota restrictions and prohibitions and all other non-tariff barriers that apply in a Member State, to imports originating in the other Member States; it being understood that each regional economic community may subsequently decide that all quota restrictions, other restrictions and prohibitions be relaxed or removed within a shorter period than that prescribed in this paragraph.

3. The arrangements governing restrictions, prohibitions, quota restrictions, dumping subsidies and discriminatory practices shall be the subject of a Protocol concerning Non-Tariff Trade Barriers.

Article 32

Establishment of a Common External Customs Tariff

1. During the third stage, Member States shall, at the level of each regional economic community, agree to the gradual establishment of a common external customs tariff applicable to goods originating from third States and imported into Member States.

2. During the fourth stage, regional economic communities shall, in accordance with a programme drawn up by them, eliminate differences between their respective external customs tariffs.

3. During the fourth stage the Council shall propose to the Assembly the adoption, at Community level, of a common customs and statistical nomenclature for all Member States.

Article 33

System of Intra-Community Trade

1. At the end of the third stage, no Member State shall, at the level of each regional economic community, levy customs duties on goods originating in one Member State and imported into another Member State. The same prohibition shall apply to goods originating from third States which are in free circulation in Member States and are imported from one Member State into another.

2. The definition of the notion of products originating in Member States and the rules governing goods originating in a third States and which are in free circulation in Member States shall be governed by a Protocol concerning the Rules of Origin.

3. Goods originating from third States shall be considered to be in free circulation in a Member State if (i) the import formalities relating thereto have been complied with, (ii) customs duties have been paid thereon in that Member State, and (iii) they have not benefited from a partial or total exemption from such customs duties.

4. Member States undertake not to adopt legislation implying direct or indirect discrimination against identical or similar products originating from another Member State.

Article 34

Internal Taxes

1. During the third stage, Member States shall not levy, directly or indirectly on goods originating from Member State and imported into any Member State, internal taxes in excess of those levied on similar domestic products.

2. Member States, at the level of each regional economic community, shall progressively eliminate any internal taxes levied for the protection of domestic products. Whereby virtue of obligations assumed under a prior agreement signed by a Member State, that Member State is unable to comply with this Article, it shall notify the Council of this fact and shall not extend or renew such agreement when it expires.

Article 35

Exceptions and Safeguard Clauses

1. Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 30 and 31 of this Treaty, any Member State, having made its intention known to the Secretariat of the Community which shall inform Member States thereof, may impose or continue to impose restrictions or prohibitions affecting:

1. The application of security laws and regulations;

2. The control of arms, ammunitions and other military items and equipment;

3. The protection of human, animal or plant health or life, or the protection of public morality;

4. Export of strategic minerals and precious stones;

5. The protection of national treasures of artistic or archaeological value or the protection of industrial, commercial and intellectual property;

6. The control of hazardous wastes, nuclear materials, radio-active products or any other material used in the development or exploitation of nuclear energy;

7. Protection of infant industries;

8. The control of strategic product; and

9. Goods imported from a third country to which a Member State applies total prohibition relating to country of origin.

2. The prohibitions or restrictions referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall in no case be used as a means of arbitrary discrimination or a disguised restriction on trade between Member States.

3. Where a Member State encounters balance-of-payments difficulties arising from the application of the provisions of this Chapter, that Member State may be allowed by the competent organ of the Community, provided that it has taken all appropriate reasonable steps to overcome the difficulties, to impose, for the sole purpose of overcoming such difficulties, quantitative or similar restrictions or prohibitions on goods originating in the other Member States for such period as shall be determined by the competent organ of the Community.

4. For the purpose of protecting an infant or strategic industry, a Member State may be allowed by the competent organ of the Community, provided it has taken all appropriate reasonable steps to protect such industry, to impose, for the sole purpose of protecting such industry, quantitative or similar restrictions or prohibitions, on similar goods originating in the other Member States for such period as shall be determined by the competent organ of the Community.

5. Where the imports of a particular product by a Member State from another Member State increase in a way that causes, or is likely to cause, serious damage to the economy of the importing states. The latter may be allowed by the competent organ of the Community to apply safeguard measures for a specified period.

6. The Council shall keep under regular review the operation of any quantitative or similar restrictions or prohibitions imposed pursuant to paragraphs 13, and 4 of this Article and shall take appropriate action in this connection. It shall submit, each year, to the Assembly, a report on the aforementioned matters.

Article 36

Dumping

1. Member States shall prohibit the practice of "dumping" within the Community.

2. For the purposes of this Article, "dumping" shall mean the transfer of goods originating from a Member State to another Member State for them to be sold:

1. At a price lower than the usual price offered for similar goods in the Member State from which those goods originate, due account being taken of the differences in conditions of sale, taxation, transport expenses and any other factor affecting the comparison of prices;

2. In conditions likely to prejudice the manufacture of similar goods in the Member State.

Article 37

Most Favoured Nation Treatment

1. Member States shall accord one another, in relation to intra-community trade, the most-favoured-nation treatment. In no case shall tariff concessions granted to a third State pursuant to an agreement with a Member State be more favourable than those applicable pursuant of this Treaty.

2. The text of the agreements referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be forwarded by the Member States parties thereto, through the Secretary-General, to all the other Member States for their information.

3. No agreement between a Member State and a third State, under which tariff concessions are granted, shall be incompatible with the obligations arising out of this Treaty.

Article 38

Re-export of Goods and Intra-Community Transit Facilities

1. During the third stage, Member States shall facilitate the re-export of goods among them in accordance with the Protocol concerning the Re-export of Goods.

2. Member States shall grant one another freedom of transit through their territories to goods proceeding to or coming from another Member State in accordance with the Protocol concerning Intra-Community Transit and Transit Facilities and in accordance with the provisions of any Intra-Community Agreements to be concluded.

Article 39

Customs Co-operation and Administration

Member States shall, in accordance with the Protocol concerning Customs Co-operation, take all necessary measures for harmonising and standardising their customs regulations and procedures in such a manner as shall be appropriate for ensuring the effective implementation of the provisions of this Chapter and facilitating the movement of goods and services across their frontiers.

Article 40

Trade Documents and Procedures

For the purpose of facilitating intra-community trade in goods and services, Member States shall simplify and harmonize their trade documents and procedures in accordance with the Protocol the concerning Simplification and Harmonisation of Trade documents and Procedures.

Article 41

Diversion of Trade Arising from Barter or Compensatory Exchange Agreement

1. If, as a result of a barter or compensatory exchange agreement relating to a specific category of goods concluded between a Member State or a person of the said Member Sate, on the one hand, and a third State or person of the said third State, on the other, there is substantial diversion of trade in favour of goods imported under such agreement and to the detriment of similar goods of the same category imported from and manufactured in any other Member State, the Member State importing such goods shall take effective steps to correct the diversion.

2. In order to determine whether a diversion of trade has occurred in a specific category of goods within the meaning of this Article, consideration shall be given to all the relevant trade statistics and other data available on such category of goods for the six-month period preceding a complaint from an affected Member State concerning diversion of trade, and for an average of two comparable six-month periods during the twenty-four (24) months preceding the first importation of goods under the barter agreement or compensatory exchange agreement.

3. The Secretary-General shall refer the matter to the Council for consideration and submission to the Assembly for decision.

Article 42

Trade Promotion

In order to attain the objectives of the Community set out in sub-paragraph 2 (m) Article 4 of this Treaty, Member States agree to undertake the trade promotion activities stated below in the following areas:

1. Intra-Community Trade

1. Promote the use of the Community's local materials, intermediate goods and inputs, as well as finished products originating within the Community;

2. Adopt the "All-Africa Trade Fair of the OAU", as an instrument of the Community trade promotion;

3. Participate in the periodic fairs organised under the auspices of the "All-Africa Trade Fair of the OAU", sectoral trade fairs, regional trade fairs and other trade promotion activities of the Community;

4. Develop an intra-community trade information network, linking the computerised trade information systems of existing and future regional economic communities and individual Member States of the Community; and

5. With the assistance of the Secretariat, study the supply and demand patterns in Member States and disseminate the findings thereon within the Community.

2. South-South Trade

1. Promote the diversification of Africa's markets, and the marketing of Community products;

2. Participate in extra-community trade fairs, in particular, within the context of South-South Co-operation; and

3. Participate in extra-community trade and investment fora.

3. North-South Trade

1. Promote better terms of trade for African commodities and improve market access for Community products;

2. Participate as a group in international negotiations within the framework of GATT and UNCTAD and other trade-related negotiating fora.

2. The modalities of organising trade promotion activities and trade information systems of the Community shall be governed by a Protocol concerning Trade Promotion.

CHAPTER VI

Free Movement of Persons, Rights of Residence and Establishment

Article 43

General Provisions

1. Member States agree to adopt, individually, at bilateral or regional levels, the necessary measures, in order to achieve progressively the free movement of persons, and to ensure the enjoyment of the right of residence and the right of establishment by their nationals within the Community.

2. For this purpose, Member States agree to conclude a Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons, Right of Residence and Right of Establishment.

CHAPTER VII

Money, Finance and Payments

Article 44

Monetary, Financial and Payment Policies

1. In accordance with the relevant Protocols, Member States shall, within a time-table to be determined by the Assembly, harmonize their monetary, financial and payments policies, in order to boost intra-community trade in goods and services, to further the attainment of objectives of the Community and to enhance monetary and financial co-operation among Member States.

2. To this end, Member States shall:

1. Use their national currencies in the settlement of commercial and financial transactions in order to reduce the use of external currencies in such transactions;

2. Establish appropriate mechanisms for setting up multilateral payments systems;

3. Consult regularly among themselves on monetary and financial matters;

4. Promote the creation of national, regional and sub-regional money markets, through the co-ordinated establishment of stock exchanges and harmonising legal texts regulating existing stock exchanges with a view to making them more effective.

5. Cooperate in an effective manner in the fields of insurance and banking;

6. Further the liberalisation of payments and the elimination of payment restrictions, if any, among them and promote the integration of all existing payments and clearing mechanisms among the different regions into an African Clearing and Payments House; and

7. Establish an African Monetary Union through the harmonisation of regional monetary zones.

Article 45

Movement of Capital

1. Member States shall ensure the free movement of capital within the Community through the elimination of restrictions on the transfer of capital funds between Member States in accordance with a timetable to be determined by the Council.

2. The capital referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article is that of Member States or persons of Member States.

3. The Assembly, having regard to the development objectives of national, regional and continental plans, and upon the recommendation of the Commission and after the approval of the Council acting on the recommendation of the Commission, shall prescribe the conditions for the movement within the Community of the capital funds other than those referred to in paragraph (2) of this Article.

4. For the purpose of regulating the movement of capital between Member States and Third States, the Assembly, upon the approval of the Council, acting on the recommendation of the Commission, shall take steps aimed at co-ordinating progressively the national and regional exchange control policies.

CHAPTER VIII

Food and Agriculture

Article 46

Agricultural Development and Food Production

1. Member States shall cooperate in the development of agriculture, forestry, livestock and fisheries in order to:

1. Ensure food security;

2. Increase production and productivity in agriculture, livestock, fisheries and forestry, and improve conditions of work and generate employment opportunities in rural areas;

3. Enhance agricultural production through processing locally animal and plant products; and

4. Protect the prices of export commodities on the international market by means of establishing an African Commodity Exchange.

2. To this end, and in order to promote the integration of production structures, Member States shall cooperate in the following fields:

1. The production of agricultural inputs, fertilisers, pesticides, selected seeds, agricultural machinery and equipment and veterinary products;

2. The development of river and lake basins;

3. The development and protection of marine and fishery resources;

4. Plant and animal protection;

5. The harmonisation of agricultural development strategies and policies at regional and Community levels, in particular, in so far as they relate to production, trade and marketing of major agricultural products and inputs; and

6. The harmonisation of food security policies in order to ensure:

1. The reduction of losses in food production;

2. The strengthening of existing institutions for the management of natural calamities, agricultural diseases and pest control;

3. The conclusion of agreements on food security at the regional and continental levels;

4. The provision of food aid to Member States in the event of serious food shortage; and

5. The protection of regional and continental markets primarily for the benefit of African agricultural products.

Article 47

Protocol on Food and Agriculture

For purposes of this Chapter, Member States shall cooperate in accordance with the provisions of the Protocol on Food and Agriculture.

CHAPTER IX

Industry, Science, Technology, Energy, Natural Resources and Environment

Article 48

Industry

1. For the purpose of promoting industrial development of Member States and integrating their economies, Member States shall within the Community harmonize their industrialisation policies.

2. In this connection, Member States shall:

1. Strengthen the industrial base of the Community, in order to modernize the priority sectors and foster self-sustained and self-reliant development;

2. Promote joint industrial development projects at regional and Community levels, as well as the creation of African multinational enterprises in priority industrial sub-sectors likely to contribute to the development of agriculture, transport and communications, natural resources and energy.

Article 49

Industrial Development

In order to create a solid basis for industrialisation and promote collective self-reliance, Member States shall:

1. Ensure the development of the following basic industries essential for collective self-reliance and the modernisation of priority sectors of the economy:

1. Food and agro-based industries;

2. Building and construction industries;

3. Metallurgical industries;

4. Mechanical industries;

5. Electrical and electronics industries;

6. Chemical and petro-chemical industries;

7. Forestry industries;

8. Energy industries;

9. Textile and leather industries;

10. Transport and communications industries; and

11. Biotechnology industries;

2. Ensure the promotion of small-scale industries with a view to enhancing the generation of employment opportunities in Member States;

3. Promote intermediate industries that have strong linkages to the economy in order to increase the local component of industrial output within the Community;

4. Prepare master plans at regional and Community levels for the establishment of African multinational industries particularly those whose construction cost and volumes of production exceed national financial and absorptive capacities;

5. Strengthen and establish, where they do not exist, specialised institutions for the financing of African multinational industrial projects;

6. Facilitate the establishment of African multinational enterprises and encourage and give financial and technical support to African entrepreneurs;

7. Promote the sale and consumption of strategic industrial products manufactured in Member States;

8. Promote technical co-operation and the exchange of experience in the field of industrial technology and implement technical training programmes among Member States;

9. Strengthen the existing multinational institutions, particularly, the African Regional Centre for Technology, the African Regional Centre for Design and Manufacture and the African Industrial Development Fund;

10. Establish a data and statistical information base to serve industrial development at the regional and continental levels;

11. Promote South-South and North-South co-operation for the attainment of industrialisation objectives in Africa;

12. Promote industrial specialisation in order to enhance the complementarity of African economies and expand the intra-Community trade base, due account being taken of national and regional resource endowments; and

13. Adopt common standards and appropriate quality control systems, which are crucial to industrial co-operation and integration.

Article 50

Protocol on Industry

For the purposes of Articles 48 and 49 of this Treaty, Member States agree to cooperate in accordance with the provisions of the Protocol on Industry.

Article 51

Science and Technology

1. Member States shall:

1. Strengthen scientific and technological capabilities in order to bring about the socio-economic transformation required to improve the quality of life of their population, particularly that of the rural populations;

2. Ensure the proper application of science and technology to the development of agriculture, transport and communications, industry, health and hygiene, energy, education and manpower and the conservation of the environment;

3. Reduce their dependence and promote their individual and collective technological self-reliance;

4. Cooperate in the development, acquisition and dissemination of appropriate technologies; and

5. Strengthen existing scientific research institutions and, where they do not exist, establish new institutions.

2. In the context of co-operation in this field, Member States shall:

1. Harmonize, at the Community level, their national policies on scientific and technological research with a view to facilitating their integration into the national economic and social development plans;

2. Coordinate their programmes in applied research, research for development and scientific and technological services;

3. Harmonize their national technological development plans by placing special emphasis on local technologies as well as their regulations on industrial property and transfer of technology;

4. Coordinate their positions on all scientific and technical questions forming the subject of international negotiations;

5. Carry out a permanent exchange of information and documentation and establish community data networks and data banks;

6. Develop joint programmes for training scientific and technological cadres, including the training and further training of skilled manpower;

7. Promote exchanges of researchers and specialists among Member States in order to make full use of the technical skills available within the Community; and

8. Revise the educational systems in order to better educational, scientific and technical training to the specific developmental needs of the African environment.

Article 52

Scientific Research and Technological Programmes

Member States shall take all necessary measures to prepare and implement joint scientific research and technological development programmes.

Article 53

Protocol on Science and Technology

For the purposes of Articles 51 and 52 of this Treaty, Member States agree to cooperate in accordance with the provisions of the Protocol on Science and Technology.

Article 54

Energy and Natural Resources

1. Member States shall coordinate and harmonize their policies and programmes in the field of energy and natural resources.

2. To this end, they shall:

1. Ensure the effective development of the continent's energy and natural resources;

2. Establish appropriate co-operation mechanisms with a view to ensuring a regular supply of hydrocarbons;

3. Promote the development of new and renewable energy in the framework of the policy of diversification of sources of energy;

4. Harmonize their national energy development plans;

5. Articulate a common energy policy, particularly, in the field of research, exploitation, production and distribution;

6. Establish an adequate mechanism of concerted action and co-ordination for the collective solution of the energy development problems within the Community, particularly, those relating to energy transmission, the shortage of skilled technicians and financial resources for the implementation of energy projects of Member States; and

7. Promote the continuous training of skilled manpower.

Article 55

Energy

1. Member States shall cooperate in the following fields:

(a) Mineral and water resources;

(b) Nuclear energy;

(c) New and renewable energy.

2. They shall further: