This document discusses the political economy of regional integration in Africa. It analyzes the key drivers and constraints of regional organizations in promoting regional cooperation on the continent. It uses five lenses to examine these factors: foundational structures, institutions, actors and agencies, sectoral characteristics, and external factors. Some key observations are that member states may signal support for regional organizations even when implementation is low priority; implementation occurs when aligned with national interests; regional hegemons influence agendas; and donors have significant influence but provide fragmented support. It concludes by discussing options for regional organizations to consider ambitions realistically given path dependencies and political realities.