For decades, the process around the quest for continental integration in Africa has remained a puzzle to observers. This puzzle stems mainly from the inherent contradictions that have marked attempts to put into practice the rhetoric on pan-African unity. This has, in turn, raised questions regarding the feasibility of navigating some of these contradictions in order to bring to life a qualitative and truly transformative continentalism. These questions have revolved around issues such as the dependence of regional institutions on external funding; the routine disrespect of fundamental regional norms and practices by member states; the exclusion of civil society from the crafting and implementation of regional norms; the continued inability of the African Union (AU) to successfully harmonise the standards and policies of regional economic communities (RECs); the lack of consensus on the institutional nature of continental integration; and the role of global actors from the East and West blocs in shaping national and regional agendas (Fagbayibo, 2017; Fagbayibo, 2018; Karbo & Murithi, 2018: 1–9; Olukoshi, 2010).