The African Economic Community (AEC) is an organization of African Union states establishing grounds for mutual economic development among the majority of African states. The stated goals of the organization include the creation of free trade areas, customs unions, a single market, a central bank, and a common currency (see African Monetary Union) thus establishing an economic and monetary union. Pillars Currently there are multiple regional blocs in Africa, also known as Regional Economic Communities (RECs), many of which have overlapping memberships. The RECs consist primarily of trade blocs and, in some cases, some political and military cooperation. Most of these RECs form the "pillars" of AEC, many of which also have an overlap in some of their member states. Due to this high proportion of overlap it is likely that some states with several memberships will eventually drop out of one or more RECs. Several of these pillars also contain subgroups with tighter customs and/or monetary unions of their own: These pillars and their corresponding subgroups are as follows: Pillar membership 1 The UMA (Arab Maghreb Union) does not participate in the AEC so far, because of opposition by Morocco Overlaps illustrated Other blocs Other African regional blocs, not participating in the AEC framework (many of them predating AEC) are: Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA) (an organization of most Middle Eastern states, including those outside Africa) Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL) Indian Ocean Commission (COI) Liptako-Gourma Authority (LGA) Mano River Union (MRU) Their membership is as follows: 1 Only African GAFTA members are listed. GAFTA and MRU are the only blocs not currently stalled. Goals The AEC founded through the Abuja Treaty, signed in 1991 and entered into force in 1994 is envisioned to be created in six stages: (completed in 1999) Creation of regional blocs in regions where such do not yet exist (completed in 2007) Strengthening of intra-REC integration and inter-REC harmonisation (completed in 2021) Establishing of a free trade area and customs union in each regional bloc (to be completed in 2023) Establishing of a continent-wide customs union (and thus also a free trade area) (to be completed in 2025) Establishing of a continent-wide African Common Market (ACM) (to be completed in 2028) Establishing of a continent-wide economic and monetary union (and thus also a currency union) and Parliament End of all transition periods: 2034 at the latest Stages progress as of