The Arab Maghrib Union and Its Environment.

The Arab Maghrib Union AMU was created in February 1989. The region includes the five North African states of Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia and has been the scene of many conflicts and changes during the three decades following their independence. While the people of these countries look forward to unification, the leaders had other external concerns and did not devote fully their attention to the question of unity. With the full integration of the European Community and with other regional powers threatening the survival of the Maghrib, the leaders of the five countries met in Marrakech and signed the treaty of the Arab Maghrib Union. This union plans to build up progressively so that full integration can be achieved by the year 2000 within the framework of a common market. This paper focuses on an analysis of the Maghrib and its environment at the dawn of the inter-Maghribi union, the regional and the international implications, and what should be done to achieve the objectives of providing health and prosperity for the AMU and its people. Finally this paper examines how the AMU will contribute in bringing stability, security and prosperity to the countries in the Mediterranean basin.