ABSTRACT
The problem of individuality of countries in the continent do not all stem from the events beyond the control of African governments. The African dimension to the disintegration of the continent began right at the dawn of independence. The different railway gauging systems effectively ruled out inter-state rail transport. This appears to be a very calculated move to maintain the individuality of the sub-Saharan African countries as separate entities. The ‘oversight’ has remained a central retarding force in the continental or regional cooperation and integration. The promotion of economic cooperation among developing countries is a well accepted part of international development policy, and regional associations and groupings among geographically contiguous areas are being encouraged. In the African experience, cooperation has been much easier in areas which are functionally diffused and of low political salience, for example, health, communication, and culture, yet cooperation in the economic sector is the centre-piece of cooperation.
