The Brexit : A Massive Setback for European Union and a Lesson for African Integration

The Brexit is unprecedented in the history of European Union (EU) and unparalleled in the annals of European integration. The seemingly unexpected outcome of the Brexit referendum has instant, far-reaching and remote consequences for Britain, EU, European integration, and neo-functionalism. The implications for African countries, African Union (AU), and African integration cannot be over-emphasised. The main objective of this paper is to examine the implications of the June 23, 2016 Brexit Referendum for African integration. The paper therefore concluded that the June 23, 2016 Brexit Referendum has enormous implications for African integration. The domino effect of Brexit may not trigger exit referendum among AU member states, but it has triggered agitations for referendum on self-determination and restructuring among ethnic nationalities in member states particularly Nigeria. This intensifies centrifugal forces of sub-nationalism and disintegrative nationalism among the AU member countries. The paper suggested post-neo-functionalism as the only way out