▁" building ▁blocks " ▁of ▁the ▁African ▁Union ▁( AU ) ▁and ▁are ▁also ▁central ▁to ▁the ▁strategy ▁for ▁implementing ▁the ▁New ▁Part ners hip ▁for ▁Africa ' s ▁Development ▁( NE P AD ). ▁ ▁List ▁of ▁Regional ▁Econom ic ▁Commun ities ▁recognized ▁by ▁the ▁African ▁Union ▁Currently , ▁there ▁are ▁eight ▁RE C s ▁recogn ised ▁by ▁the ▁A U , ▁each ▁established ▁under ▁a ▁separate ▁regional ▁treat y . ▁They ▁are : ▁▁ ▁Arab ▁Mag h reb ▁Union ▁( U MA ) ▁ ▁Common ▁Market ▁for ▁Eastern ▁and ▁Southern ▁Africa ▁( CO ME SA ) ▁ ▁Community ▁of ▁Sah el - S ah aran ▁States ▁( C EN - S AD ) ▁▁ ▁East ▁African ▁Community ▁( E AC ) ▁▁ ▁Econom ic ▁Community ▁of ▁Central ▁African ▁States ▁( E CC AS ) ▁ ▁Econom ic ▁Community ▁of ▁West ▁African ▁States ▁( E CO W AS ) ▁ ▁Inter g overn ment al ▁Author ity ▁on ▁Development ▁( IG AD ) ▁ ▁Southern ▁African ▁Development ▁Community ▁( S AD C ) ▁ ▁Background ▁From ▁its ▁establishment ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 3 , ▁the ▁Organisation ▁of ▁African ▁Unity ▁( O AU ) ▁identified ▁the ▁need ▁for ▁the ▁economic ▁integration ▁of ▁the ▁continent ▁as ▁a ▁pr ere quis ite ▁for ▁economic ▁development . ▁ ▁The ▁ 1 9 8 0 ▁Lag os ▁Plan ▁of ▁Action ▁for ▁the ▁Development ▁of ▁Africa , ▁followed ▁by ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 1 ▁treat y ▁to ▁establish ▁the ▁African ▁Econom ic ▁Community ▁( also ▁referred