CEN–SAD was formed in 1998 with the primary objective of promoting the economic, cultural, political and social integration of its Member States. The Treaty establishing the Community, revised in 2013, provides that the aims and objectives of CEN–SAD are to:

• Establish a comprehensive economic union with a particular focus on the agricultural, industrial, social, cultural and energy fields.
• Adopt measures to promote free movement of individuals and capital
• Promote measures to encourage foreign trade, transportation and telecommunications among Member States
• Promote measures to coordinate educational systems
• Promote cooperation in cultural, scientific and technical fields.

With only five countries, AMU has the smallest number of member states of any regional economic community in Africa. Because of this, the scores of the region’s outliers have a stronger effect on the region’s average than is the case for other economic communities. This region is home to countries such as Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia, and is characterized by a diverse range of economic activities, including agriculture, tourism, and natural resource extraction (such as oil and gas). The region is also known for its strategic location at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa, which has led to its historical importance as a center for trade and commerce. The largest concentration of African Historic Diaspora is located in Egypt.