This paper is a contribution to the debate on Africaʹs regional integration and the challenge of development in the context of globalization. It situates Africaʹs development paradox, as manifestly shown by its ʹpoverty of plentyʹ within the framework of globalization. It also examines Africaʹs new regionalism, epitomized by the transition from the OAU to AU, and argues that while the effort has enabled Africa to respond to the challenge of globalization and development in a way, the instrumentality of NEPAD through which it sought to do so is in a state of vacillation. It is argued that the use of the word ʹpartnershipʹ in that context negates the basic requirement of partnership. Not only does NEPAD proceed from a faulty theoretical premise but also, most African states lack the political will, internal legitimacy and capability to cope with the responsibility bestowed on them by the new initiative. By and large, the activism of the civil society and the global acceptance of the initiative, no matter how pretentious it may be, offer new hopes. To make it realistic, African leaders must revisit the concept of partnership to reflect its necessary conditions for success. It is only then that they can ʹstruggleʹ to bridge the ever widening gap of inequality between the rich north and poor south through a democratically designed development pact. This requires the institutionalization of good governance and the strengthening of the current wave of democratization in Africa.
