Finance:African Continental Free Trade Area

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Short description: Free trade area in Africa
Not to be confused with African Free Trade Zone.

African Continental Free Trade Area
African Continental Free Trade Area logo
Status as of August, 2024
  Ratifying parties
  Signed March 2018, not ratified
  Signed July 2018 or later, not ratified
TypeFree-trade area
SignedMarch 21, 2018
LocationKigali, Rwanda
EffectiveMay 30, 2019; 6 years ago (May 30, 2019)[1]
ConditionRatification by 22 states
Original
signatories
Signatories
Parties
DepositaryAfrican Union Commission
LanguagesArabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Swahili

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)[11] is a free trade area encompassing most of Africa.[12][13][14] It was established in 2018 by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, which has 43 parties and another 11 signatories, making it the largest free-trade area by number of member states, after the World Trade Organization,[15] and the largest in population and geographic size, spanning 1.3 billion people across the world's second largest continent.

The agreement founding AfCFTA was brokered by the African Union (AU) and signed by 44 of its 55 member states in Kigali, Rwanda on March 21, 2018.[16][17] The proposal was set to come into force 30 days after ratification by 22 of the signatory states.[16] On April 29, 2019,[18] the Sahrawi Republic made the 22nd deposit of instruments of ratification, bringing the agreement into force on May 30; it entered its operational phase following a summit on July 7, 2019,[19] and officially commenced January 1, 2021. AfCFTA's negotiations and implementation are overseen by a permanent secretariat based in Accra, Ghana.[20][21]

Under the agreement, AfCFTA members are committed to eliminating tariffs on most goods and services over a period of 5, 10, or 13 years, depending on the country's level of development or the nature of the products.[20] General long-term objectives include creating a single, liberalised market; reducing barriers to capital and labor to facilitate investment; developing regional infrastructure; and establishing a continental customs union.[22] The overall aims of AfCFTA are to increase socioeconomic development, reduce poverty, and make Africa more competitive in the global economy.

On January 13, 2022, the AfCFTA took a major step towards its objective with the establishment of the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), which allows payments among companies operating in Africa (and later by extension the Caribbean) to be done in any local currency.[20][23]

In April 2024, the African Union announced that the AfCFTA entered into the operational phase of the agreement. The operational phase, which effectively puts the agreement into force, is characterized by the following actions:

  • Establishment of the rules of origin, which will govern the conditions under which a product or service can be traded duty free;
  • Tariff concessions, 90% tariff liberalisation;
  • Online mechanism, allows members to report non-tariff barriers;
  • Pan-African payment and settlement system, allows certainty of payments and will instill confidence in the system
  • African Trade Observatory, a portal to address hindrances to trade, will be provided by AU member states.[24]

History

Background

In 1963, the Organization of African Unity was founded by the independent states of Africa. The OAU aimed to promote cooperation between African states. In 1980 it adopted the Lagos Plan of Action. The plan suggested Africa should minimize its reliance upon the West by promoting intra-African trade. This began as the creation of a number of regional cooperation organizations in the different regions of Africa, such as the Southern African Development Coordination Conference. Eventually this led to the Abuja Treaty in 1991, which created the African Economic Community, an organization that promoted the development of free trade areas, customs unions, an African Central Bank, and an African common currency union.[25][26]

In 2002, the OAU was succeeded by the African Union (AU), which had as one of its goals to accelerate the "economic integration of the continent".[27] A second goal was to "coordinate and harmonize the policies between the existing and future Regional Economic Communities for the gradual attainment of the objectives of the Union."[28]

Negotiations

At the 2012 African Union summit in Addis Ababa, leaders agreed to create a new Continental Free Trade Area by 2017. At the 2015 AU summit in Johannesburg, the summit agreed to commence negotiations. This began a series of ten negotiating sessions which took place over the next three years.[25][29]

The first negotiation forum was held in February 2016 and held eight meetings until the Summit in March 2018 in Kigali. From February 2017 on the technical working groups held four meetings, where technical issues were discussed and implemented in the draft. On March 8–9, 2018 the African Union Ministers of Trade approved the draft.[30]

2018 Kigali Summit

In March 2018, at the 10th Extraordinary Session of the African Union on AfCFTA, three separate agreements were signed: the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, the Kigali Declaration ; and the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons . The Protocol on Free Movement of Persons seeks to establish a visa-free zone within the AfCFTA countries, and support the creation of the African Union Passport.[31] At the summit in Kigali on March 21, 2018, 44 countries signed the AfCFTA, 47 signed the Kigali Declaration, and 30 signed the Protocol on Free Movement of People. While a success, there were two notable holdouts: Nigeria and South Africa, the two largest economies in Africa.[32][33][34]

One complicating factor in the negotiations was that Africa had already been divided into eight separate free trade areas and/or customs unions, each with different regulations.[note 1] These regional bodies will continue to exist; the African Continental Free Trade Agreement initially seeks to reduce trade barriers between the different pillars of the African Economic Community, and eventually use these regional organizations as building blocks for the ultimate goal of an Africa-wide customs union.[25][34][35][36]

Declarations signed at the 2018 Kigali summit[37]
Country Signed By AfCFTA Consolidated Text (signature) Kigali Declaration Free Movement Protocol
 Algeria Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia Yes Yes No
 Angola President João Lourenço Yes Yes Yes
 Central African Republic President Faustin Archange Touadéra Yes Yes Yes
 Chad President Idriss Déby Yes Yes Yes
 Comoros President Azali Assoumani Yes Yes Yes
 Djibouti President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh Yes Yes No
 Equatorial Guinea Prime Minister Francisco Pascual Obama Asue Yes Yes Yes
 Eswatini Prime Minister Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini Yes Yes No
 Gabon President Ali Bongo Ondimba Yes Yes Yes
 Gambia President Adama Barrow Yes Yes Yes
 Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo Yes Yes Yes
 Ivory Coast Vice President Daniel Kablan Duncan Yes No No
 Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta Yes Yes Yes
 Lesotho Prime Minister Tom Thabane No Yes Yes
 Mauritania President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz Yes Yes Yes
 Morocco Prime Minister Saadeddine Othmani Yes No No
 Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi Yes Yes Yes
 Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou Yes Yes Yes
 Republic of the Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso Yes Yes Yes
 Rwanda President Paul Kagame Yes Yes Yes
Template:SADR President Brahim Ghali Yes Yes No
 Senegal President Macky Sall Yes Yes Yes
 Seychelles Vice President Vincent Meriton Yes Yes No
 South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa No Yes No
 Sudan Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok Yes Yes Yes
 Tanzania Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa No Yes No
 Uganda President Yoweri Museveni[38] Yes Yes Yes
 Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa Yes Yes No

Drafting of further protocols

Negotiations continued in 2018 with Phase II, including policies of investment, competition and intellectual property rights.[39] In January 2020, AU Assembly negotiations are envisaged to be concluded.[40] A draft is expected for the January 2020 AU Assembly.[41][needs update]

Expectations

In 2018, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa estimated that AfCFTA would boost intra-African trade by 52 percent by 2022.[42] A 2020 report by the World Bank anticipated that AfCFTA could lift 30 million Africans out of extreme poverty, boost the incomes of nearly 70 million people, and generate $450 billion in income by 2035.[43]

Institutions

The following institutions were established to facilitate the implementation of the free trade area. As a result of Phase II negotiations more committees may be established via protocols.[44]

The AfCFTA Secretariat is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the agreement and is an autonomous body within the AU system. Though it has independent legal personality, it works closely with the AU Commission and receives its budget from the AU. The Council of Ministers responsible for trade was to decide on the location of the headquarter, structure, role and responsibilities.[39] The Assembly of the African Union Heads of State and Government is the highest decision-making body. It is likely to meet during the AU Summits.[45] The Council of Ministers Responsible for Trade provides strategic trade policy oversight and ensures effective implementation and enforcement of the AfCFTA Agreement.[45]

Several committees have been established: for trade in goods, trade in services, on rules of origin, trade remedies, non-tariff barriers, technical barriers to trade and on sanitary and phytosanitary measures.[45] Dispute resolution mechanisms[46] and procedures are still being negotiated, but will presumably include designation of a dispute resolution body.[39] The Committee of Senior Trade Officials implements the Council's decisions. The Committee is responsible for the development of programs and action plans for the implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement.[45]

Implementation

The AfCFTA is set to be implemented in phases, and some of the future phases are still under negotiation.[36] Phase I covers trade in goods and trade in services. Phase II covers intellectual property rights, investment and competition policy. Phase III covers e-commerce.

At the 2018 Kigali summit, areas of agreement were found on trade protocols, dispute settlement procedures, customs cooperation, trade facilitation, and rules of origin. There was also agreement to reduce tariffs on 90% of all goods. Each nation is permitted to exclude 3% of goods from this agreement.[29] This was part of Phase I of the agreement, which covers goods and services liberalization. Some Phase I issues that remain to be negotiated include the schedule of tariff concessions and other specific commitments.[29][36]

The 12th Extraordinary Session of the African Union on AfCFTA, called to launch the new agreement into its operational phase, was hosted in Niamey on July 7, 2019.[47][48] At its launch, five operational instruments that will govern the AfCFTA were activated: "the rules of origin; the online negotiating forum; the monitoring and elimination of non-tariff barriers; a digital payment system; and the African Trade Observatory."[49]

Phase II and III negotiations are expected to be initiated by all AU member countries and held in successive rounds. In February 2020, the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government decided that Phase III would begin immediately following the conclusion of Phase II negotiations, which were initially scheduled to conclude in December 2020.[29][36] However, this deadline was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa, and a new date (December 31, 2021) was set as the deadline for the conclusion of Phase II and III negotiations. The AfCFTA officially but largely symbolically launched on January 1, 2021.[50]

Membership

Among the 55 AU member states, 44 signed the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (consolidated text), 47 signed the Kigali Declaration and 30 signed the Protocol on Free Movement of People at the end of the 2018 Kigali Summit. Benin, Botswana, Eritrea, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, and Zambia were among the 11 countries that did not initially sign the agreement.[51] After the 2018 Kigali summit, more signatures were added to the AfCFTA. At the 31st African Union Summit in Nouakchott on 1 July 2018, South Africa (the second largest economy of Africa), Sierra Leone, Namibia, Lesotho and Burundi joined the agreement.[52] In February 2019, Guinea-Bissau, Zambia and Botswana also joined. Kenya and Ghana were the first nations to ratify the agreement, depositing their ratification on 10 May 2018.[3]

Of the signatories, 22 needed to deposit the instrument of ratification of the agreement for it to come into effect, and this occurred on April 29, 2019 when both Sierra Leone and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic deposited the agreement.[53] As a result, the agreement came into force 30 days later on May 30, 2019.

President of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari was particularly reluctant to join the AfCFTA, fearing it would hurt Nigerian entrepreneurship and local industries,[54] and his decision not to was praised by some local groups including the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria[55] and the Nigeria Labour Congress.[56] The Nigerian government intended to consult further with local businesses in order to ensure private sector buy-in to the agreement,[57] because a key concern was whether the agreement adequately prevented anti-competitive practices such as dumping.[58] In July 2019, just months after being re-elected to a new term, Buhari agreed to join the agreement at the 12th extraordinary session of the assembly of the union on AfCFTA.[59]

At the same meeting, Benin also committed to signing the agreement, leaving Eritrea as the only one of the 55 African Union Member States not to sign up to the deal.[60][61][48] Formally, Eritrea was not part of the initial agreement due to an ongoing state of war, but the 2018 peace agreement between Ethiopia and Eritrea ended the conflict and ended the barrier to Eritrean participation in the free trade agreement.[12][34][62][63][64][65][needs update]

As of August 2024, there are 54 signatories, of which 48 have deposited their instruments of ratification.[66][67][68] Additionally, one country (Somalia) completed its domestic ratification[when?], but had not yet deposited their ratification with the depository by May 2020.[68][69] Eritrea is the only AU member state which had not signed the agreement by 2019.[62]

List of signatories and parties to the agreement

Ratification Status of African Nations[70]
Country Signed Date of Signing Ratified Date of Ratification Deposited Date of Deposit
 Algeria Yes 2018 Yes 2021 Yes 2021[71]
 Angola Yes 2018 Yes 2020 Yes 2020[72]
 Benin Yes 2019 No No
 Botswana Yes 2019 Yes Yes 2023
 Burkina Faso Yes 2018 Yes 2019 Yes 2019[73]
 Burundi Yes 2018 Yes 2021 Yes 2021
 Cameroon Yes 2018 Yes 2020 Yes 2020
 Central African Republic Yes 2018 Yes 2020 Yes 2020
 Cape Verde Yes 2018 Yes 2020 Yes 2022
 Chad Yes 2018 Yes 2018 Yes 2018[74]
 Ivory Coast Yes 2018 Yes 2018 Yes 2018
 Comoros Yes 2018 Yes Yes 2023
 Republic of the Congo Yes 2018 Yes 2019 Yes 2019
 Democratic Republic of the Congo Yes 2018 Yes 2022 Yes 2022
 Djibouti Yes 2018 Yes 2019 Yes 2019
 Egypt Yes 2018 Yes 2019 Yes 2019[75]
 Equatorial Guinea Yes 2018 Yes 2019 Yes 2019[76]
 Eritrea No No No
 Eswatini Yes 2018 Yes 2018 Yes 2018[74]
 Ethiopia Yes 2018 Yes 2019 Yes 2019[77]
 Gabon Yes 2018 Yes 2019 Yes 2019[76]
 Gambia Yes 2018 Yes 2019 Yes 2019
 Ghana Yes 2018 Yes 2018 Yes 2018[78]
 Guinea Yes 2018 Yes 2018 Yes 2018
 Guinea-Bissau Yes 2019 Yes 2022[79] Yes 2022
 Kenya Yes 2018 Yes 2018 Yes 2018[78]
 Lesotho Yes 2018 Yes 2020 Yes 2020
 Liberia Yes 2018 Yes 2023[80] Yes 2024[81]
 Libya Yes 2018 No No
 Madagascar Yes 2018 No No
 Malawi Yes 2018 Yes 2020[82] Yes 2021[83]
 Mali Yes 2018 Yes 2019 Yes 2019
 Mauritania Yes 2018 Yes 2019 Yes 2019[84]
 Mauritius Yes 2018 Yes 2019 Yes 2019
 Morocco Yes 2018 Yes 2022 Yes 2022
 Mozambique Yes 2018 Yes 2023[85] Yes 2023
 Namibia Yes 2018 Yes 2019 Yes 2019
 Niger Yes 2018 Yes 2018 Yes 2018[86]
 Nigeria Yes 2019 Yes 2020[87] Yes 2020[88]
 Rwanda Yes 2018 Yes 2018 Yes 2018[89]
Template:SADR Yes 2018 Yes 2019 Yes 2019
 São Tomé and Príncipe Yes 2018 Yes 2019 Yes 2019[90]
 Senegal Yes 2018 Yes 2019 Yes 2019
 Seychelles Yes 2018 Yes 2021 Yes 2021
 Sierra Leone Yes 2018 Yes 2019 Yes 2019
 Somalia Yes 2018 Yes No
 South Africa Yes 2018 Yes 2019 Yes 2019[91]
 South Sudan Yes 2018 No No
 Sudan Yes 2018 No No
 Tanzania Yes 2018 Yes 2022 Yes 2022[7]
 Togo Yes 2018 Yes 2019 Yes 2019
 Tunisia Yes 2018 Yes 2020 Yes 2020
 Uganda Yes 2018 Yes 2018 Yes 2019[92]
 Zambia Yes 2019 Yes 2021[93] Yes 2021[94]
 Zimbabwe Yes 2018 Yes 2019 Yes 2019[95]

Other AU member states

Eritrea has not signed due to tensions with Ethiopia, but as of 2019, following the 2018 Eritrea–Ethiopia summit, the AU Commissioner for Trade and Industry expected that Eritrea would eventually sign the agreement.[62][needs update]

Caribbean Community (CARICOM)

Some editorial and political discourse has been made about the African diaspora and specifically the potential level of engagement which could be garnered between the African continent and the Caribbean region.[96][97][98] Many Caribbean nations have sought to deepen ties with nations in the continent of Africa. Leading to the African Union-bloc referring to the Caribbean as the potential "Sixth Region" of the African Union under the protocol on the amendment to the Constitutive Act of 2003.[99][100] Some Caribbean states have already moved to join Africa institutions including Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, and The Bahamas which have all become members of the African Export-Import Bank.[101] And the Caribbean Development Bank has signed a cooperation strategic partnership agreement with the African Development Bank (AfDB).[102] In 2022 the former President of Jamaica even made calls for Caribbean States to seek partnership with the AfCFTA agreement.[103] At present Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana, and Suriname are at various stages of establishing direct air flights with Africa to boost person-to-person links and boost trade, or tourism between both regions. Several Caribbean islands have also looked to open negotiations on easing passport visa restrictions between both regions.[104][105]

The first inter-regional Africa-Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Summit took place in September 2021. In August 2023 the African Union's African Export–Import Bank officially launched its first Caribbean Community office in Barbados beginning the process of integrating willing Caribbean states as the 6th region of the African Union.[106][107] The Government of Barbados donated the land in order to help complete the deal.[108] In 2023 the CARICOM-bloc's central banks voted to choose the African PAPSS-system as the preferred method for clearing inter-regional transactions.[23]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ There are eight Regional Economic Communities recognised by the African Union, each established under a separate regional treaty.

References

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  1. ↑ SARS (South African Revenue Service). 2021. Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade AREA (AfCFTA). AfCFTA. https://www.sars.gov.za/legal-counsel/international-treaties-agreements/trade-agreements/afcfta/ Date of access: 14 Oct. 2021
  2. ↑ "Summary of the key decisions and declarations of the 31st African Union Summit". African Union. July 6, 2018. https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20180706/summary-key-decisions-and-declarations-31st-african-union-summit. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Kenya and Ghana to ratify instruments of African Continental Free Trade Area | African Union" (in en). https://au.int/en/newsevents/20180510/kenya-and-ghana-ratify-instruments-african-continental-free-trade-area. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Tunisia and Lesotho join growing number of countries to ratify AfCFTA one month to start of trading". 2020-11-30. https://www.uneca.org/stories/tunisia-and-lesotho-join-growing-number-countries-ratify-afcfta-one-month-start-trading. 
  5. ↑ "Africa's Single Market To Come Into Force In July 2019". KT Press. https://ktpress.rw/2019/01/africas-single-market-to-come-into-force-in-july-2019/. 
  6. ↑ Dahir, Abdi Latif (December 26, 2018). "Africa moved the world closer to its largest free trade area since WTO in 2018". https://qz.com/africa/1507273/africas-free-trade-agreement-was-signed-in-2018/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Tanzania Embassy in Ethiopia [@tanzaniainaddis] (17 January 2022). "Ambassador deposits instrument of accession" (in English). Addis Ababa. https://twitter.com/tanzaniainaddis/status/1482988442338439168. 
  8. ↑ First, Togo. "Togo ratifies law to create African Continental Free Trade Area". https://www.togofirst.com/en/economic-governance/0712-2169-togo-ratifies-law-to-create-african-continental-free-trade-area. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Uganda officially joins the Africa free trade deal, over 20 countries on the fence". November 29, 2018. https://face2faceafrica.com/article/uganda-officially-joins-the-africa-free-trade-deal-over-20-countries-on-the-fence. 
  10. ↑ "Status of AfCFTA Ratification". August 2024. https://www.tralac.org/resources/infographic/13795-status-of-afcfta-ratification.html. 
  11. ↑ Loes Witschge (March 20, 2018). "African Continental Free Trade Area: What you need to know". Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/03/african-continental-free-trade-area-afcfta-180317191954318.html. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "African states agree massive trade bloc" (in en-GB). BBC News. 2018-03-21. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-43489255. 
  13. ↑ "Africa Set to Agree $3 Trillion Trade Bloc, Without Key Economy" (in en). Bloomberg.com. 2018-03-21. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-21/africa-set-to-agree-3-trillion-trade-bloc-without-key-economy. 
  14. ↑ AfricaNews. "Forty-four countries sign historic African Union free trade agreement | Africanews" (in en). Africanews. http://www.africanews.com/2018/03/21/forty-four-countries-sign-historic-africa-union-free-trade-agreement/. 
  15. ↑ Justina Crabtree (March 20, 2018). "Africa is on the verge of forming the largest free trade area since the World Trade Organization". CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/20/africa-leaders-to-form-largest-free-trade-area-since-the-wto.html. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Forty-four African countries sign a free-trade deal". The Economist. March 22, 2018. https://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21739224-nigeria-among-protectionist-holdouts-forty-four-african-countries-sign. 
  17. ↑ "44 African nations sign pact establishing free trade area". 2018-03-21. http://www.arabnews.com/node/1270936/business-economy. 
  18. ↑ Abdi Latif Dahir (April 3, 2019). "Africa's historic free trade deal now has enough countries signed up to go into force". Quartz Africa. https://qz.com/africa/1586526/africa-free-trade-deal-gets-gambia-signature-to-go-into-force/. 
  19. ↑ "AfCFTA Agreement secures minimum threshold of 22 ratification as Sierra Leone and the Saharawi Republic deposit instruments.". African Union. Apr 29, 2019. https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20190429/afcfta-agreement-secures-minimum-threshold-22-ratification-sierra-leone-and. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 U.S. International Trade Administration, African Continental Free Trade Area (3 January 2022).
  21. ↑ "Akufo-Addo commissions and hands-over AfCFTA secretariat to AU commission" (in en-gb). August 17, 2020. https://www.myjoyonline.com/news/akufo-addo-commissions-and-hands-over-afcfta-secretariat-to-au-commission/. 
  22. ↑ "Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area". https://www.tralac.org/documents/resources/african-union/2162-afcfta-agreement-legally-scrubbed-version-signed-16-may-2018/file.html. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Thiongane, Papa Samba (October 26, 2023). "CARICOM Central Banks adopt PAPSS for intra-regional trade transactions". https://papss.com/media/caricom-central-banks-adopt-papss-for-intra-regional-trade-transactions/. "The Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), a groundbreaking initiative developed by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) to revolutionize cross-border payments and boost intra-African trade, today celebrates a significant milestone as it receives a historic endorsement from the Governors of the Central Banks in the Caribbean region. All eleven Central Banks have unanimously adopted PAPSS as the preferred system for processing the settlement of intra-regional trade transactions." 
  24. ↑ "Operational Phase Of The African Continental Free Trade Area Launched". https://au.int/en/articles/operational-phase-african-continental-free-trade-area-launched. 
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 "African Continental Free Trade Area: Policy and Negotiation Options for Trade in Goods". United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. 2016. https://unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/webditc2016d7_en.pdf. 
  26. ↑ "African Union will launch operational phase of the AfCFTA at Summit in Niger". 4 July 2019. https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20190704/african-union-will-launch-operational-phase-afcfta-summit-niger. 
  27. ↑ "Constitutive Act of the African Union". African Union. https://au.int/sites/default/files/pages/34873-file-constitutiveact_en.pdf. "Article 3c: "accelerate the political and socio-economic integration of the continent;"" 
  28. ↑ "Constitutive Act of the African Union". African Union. https://au.int/sites/default/files/pages/34873-file-constitutiveact_en.pdf. "Article 3 (l): "coordinate and harmonize the policies between the existing and future Regional Economic Communities for the gradual attainment of the objectives of the Union;"" 
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 Signé, Landry; van der Ven, Colette (May 2019). "Keys to success for the AfCFTA negotiations". https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Keys_to_success_for_AfCFTA.pdf. 
  30. ↑ tralac, trade law centre. "African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Legal Texts and Policy Documents". https://www.tralac.org/resources/by-region/cfta.html. 
  31. ↑ Gwatiwa, Tshepo T.; Sam, Michael Noel (March 14, 2018). "How the free movement of people could benefit Africa". http://theconversation.com/how-the-free-movement-of-people-could-benefit-africa-92057. 
  32. ↑ Shaban, Abdur Rahman Alfa (March 21, 2018). "Forty-four countries sign historic African Union free trade agreement". https://www.africanews.com/2018/03/21/forty-four-countries-sign-historic-africa-union-free-trade-agreement//. 
  33. ↑ "African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Legal Texts and Policy Documents". Tralac Trade Law Centre. https://www.tralac.org/resources/our-resources/6730-continental-free-trade-area-cfta.html. 
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 "African Union Legal Resources and Policy Documents". https://www.tralac.org/resources/by-region/african-union-resources.html. 
  35. ↑ Balima, Boureima (July 8, 2019). "Economic 'game changer'? African leaders launch free-trade zone". https://www.reuters.com/article/us-africa-trade/economic-game-changer-african-leaders-launch-free-trade-zone-idUSKCN1U20BX. 
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 36.2 36.3 Erasmus, Gerhard (22 March 2018). "How will the AfCFTA be established and its Legal Instruments be implemented?". https://www.tralac.org/discussions/article/12869-how-will-the-afcfta-be-established-and-its-legal-instruments-be-implemented.html. 
  37. ↑ "INDICATION OF LEGAL INSTRUMENTS SIGNED AT THE 10TH EXTRAORDINARY SESSION OF THE ASSEMBLY ON THE LAUNCH OF THE AFCFTA". https://www.tralac.org/documents/resources/african-union/1831-legal-instruments-signed-at-10th-extraordinary-summit-on-afcfta-21-march-2018/file.html. 
  38. ↑ TRALAC (28 November 2018). "Uganda Deposits Its Instrument of Ratification of The Agreement On The AfCFTA". African Continental Free Trade Area (TRALAC). https://www.tralac.orgtralac.org/news/article/13750-uganda-deposits-its-instrument-of-ratification-of-the-agreement-on-the-afcfta.html. 
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 "African Continental Free Trade Area - Questions & Answers". African Union. March 15, 2018. https://au.int/sites/default/files/documents/33984-doc-qa_cfta_en_rev15march.pdf. 
  40. ↑ "Decision on the draft agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)". African Union. March 21, 2018. https://au.int/sites/default/files/decisions/34055-ext_assembly_dec_1x_e26_march.pdf. 
  41. ↑ "Decision on the draft agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)". African Union. March 21, 2018. https://au.int/sites/default/files/decisions/34055-ext_assembly_dec_1x_e26_march.pdf. 
  42. ↑ Witschge, Loes (March 20, 2018). "African Continental Free Trade Area: What you need to know". Al-Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/03/african-continental-free-trade-area-afcfta-180317191954318.html. 
  43. ↑ "The African Continental Free Trade Area" (in en). https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/trade/publication/the-african-continental-free-trade-area. 
  44. ↑ Erasmus, Gerhard (March 22, 2018). "How will the AfCFTA be established and its Legal Instruments be implemented?". tralac Discussion (trade law centre). https://www.tralac.org/discussions/article/12869-how-will-the-afcfta-be-established-and-its-legal-instruments-be-implemented.html. 
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 45.2 45.3 Chidede, Talkmore (March 15, 2018). "The legal and institutional architecture of the Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area". tralac Discussion (trade law centre). https://www.tralac.org/discussions/article/12838-the-legal-and-institutional-architecture-of-the-agreement-establishing-the-african-continental-free-trade-area.html. 
  46. ↑ "9th Meeting of the AfCFTA Dispute Settlement Body - AfCFTA" (in en-US). 2023-03-22. https://au-afcfta.org/2023/03/9th-meeting-of-the-afcfta-dispute-settlement-body/. 
  47. ↑ "AfCFTA Agreement secures minimum threshold of 22 ratification as Sierra Leone and the Saharawi Republic deposit instruments.". April 29, 2019. https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20190429/afcfta-agreement-secures-minimum-threshold-22-ratification-sierra-leone-and. 
  48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 Meldrum, Andrew (July 7, 2019). "African leaders to launch continent-wide free trade zone". Associated Press. https://www.apnews.com/e5ab779ada5e40c2a2ae782f844e519a. 
  49. ↑ "Operational phase of the African Continental Free Trade Area is launched at Niger Summit of the African Union". 7 July 2019. https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20190707/operational-phase-african-continental-free-trade-area-launched-niger-summit. 
  50. ↑ "After months of COVID delays, African free trade bloc launches" (in en). aljazeera.com (Al Jazeera English). January 1, 2021. https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/1/1/after-months-of-covid-delays-african-free-trade-bloc-launches. 
  51. ↑ Uwiringiyimana, Clement (March 21, 2018). "Nigeria keen to ensure Africa trade bloc good for itself: president". Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-africa-trade/nigeria-keen-to-ensure-africa-trade-bloc-good-for-itself-president-idUSKBN1GX29V. 
  52. ↑ "More countries sign the African free trade area agreement". https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/business/African-free-trade-area-agreement-signing/2560-4644458-nutmsnz/index.html. 
  53. ↑ "African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Legal Texts and Policy Documents" (in en-gb). https://www.tralac.org/resources/by-region/cfta.html. 
  54. ↑ Giles, Chris (March 22, 2018). "44 African countries agree free trade agreement, Nigeria yet to sign". CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/22/africa/african-trade-agreement-world/index.html. 
  55. ↑ "Nigeria's Buhari explains failure to sign continental free trade agreement". http://www.africanews.com/2018/03/23/nigeria-s-buhari-explains-failure-to-sign-continental-free-trade-agreement//. 
  56. ↑ "Why Nigeria, South Africa did not join other Nations to sign Continental Free Trade agreement". Pulse Nigeria. https://www.pulse.ng/bi/strategy/strategy-why-nigeria-south-africa-did-not-join-other-nations-to-sign-continental-free/1sfvms6. 
  57. ↑ "Why Nigeria had good reasons to delay signing Africa's free trade deal". https://theconversation.com/why-nigeria-had-good-reasons-to-delay-signing-africas-free-trade-deal-100203. 
  58. ↑ "Nigeria: Why We Are Worried Over African Free Trade Agreement - Dangote, MAN, LCCI". https://allafrica.com/stories/201811080199.html. 
  59. ↑ Kazeem, Yomi (July 3, 2019). "Africa's largest economy is finally backing the continent's plans for a single free trade market". https://qz.com/africa/1657861/nigeria-to-sign-africa-free-trade-agreement-afcfta/. 
  60. ↑ AfricaNews (2019-07-06). "Eritrea now sole outsiders of free trade deal as Nigeria, Benin sign up". https://www.africanews.com/2019/07/06/eritrea-now-sole-outsiders-of-free-trade-deal-as-nigeria-benin-sign-up/. 
  61. ↑ "Nigeria finally commits to signing the Africa free trade agreement". 2019-07-03. https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/nigeria-finally-commits-to-signing-the-africa-free-trade-agreement/. 
  62. ↑ 62.0 62.1 62.2 "Nigeria signs African free trade area agreement". BBC. 2019-07-07. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-48899701. 
  63. ↑ Jones, Mayeni (7 July 2019). "Nigeria signs African free trade area agreement". BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-48899701. 
  64. ↑ Ighobor, Kingsley (Aug–Nov 2018). "Africa set for a massive free trade area". Africa Renewal (United Nations). https://www.un.org/africarenewal/magazine/august-november-2018/africa-set-massive-free-trade-area. 
  65. ↑ "Status of AfCFTA Ratification". https://www.tralac.org/resources/infographics/13795-status-of-afcfta-ratification.html. 
  66. ↑ Ndlovu, Sitshengisiwe (July 23, 2020). "AfCFTA establishment pushed to 2021 by Covid-19". The Herald. https://www.herald.co.zw/afcfta-establishment-pushed-to-2021-by-covid-19/. 
  67. ↑ "Statement of H.E. Mr. Wamkele Mene on the Occasion of Swearing-in as the Secretary General of the AfCFTA Secretariat". African Union. March 19, 2020. https://au.int/en/speeches/20200319/statement-he-mr-wamkele-mene-occasion-swearing-secretary-general-afcfta. 
  68. ↑ 68.0 68.1 "AfCFTA: Towards the African Continental Free Trade Area". Tralac. May 6, 2020. https://www.tralac.org/resources/infographic/13795-status-of-afcfta-ratification.html. 
  69. ↑ "Somalia approves Africa free trade area treaty for ratification - Xinhua | English.news.cn". http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-08/14/c_139291333.htm. 
  70. ↑ "Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area". October 8, 2019. https://au.int/en/treaties/agreement-establishing-african-continental-free-trade-area. 
  71. ↑ "UNECA announces initiative to spur role of AfCFTA in Africa's post-COVID-19 economic recovery". 2021-06-25. http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/africa/2021-06/25/c_1310026264.htm. 
  72. ↑ Abdulrahman Olagunju (2020-11-04). "Angola becomes 30th state party to the AfCFTA by depositing instruments of ratification". https://www.africannewspage.net/2020/11/angola-becomes-30th-state-party-to-the-afcfta-by-depositing-instruments-of-ratification/. 
  73. ↑ "Africa's Free Trade Zone Kicks-Off". http://northafricapost.com/31338-africas-free-trade-zone-kicks-off.html. 
  74. ↑ 74.0 74.1 "Five more countries sign, two ratify AfCFTA at AU Summit". July 3, 2018. http://en.igihe.com/news/five-more-countries-sign-two-ratify-afcfta-at-au.html. 
  75. ↑ "Egypt is 18th AfCFTA ratification instrument depositor". April 8, 2019. https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/3/68092/Egypt-is-18th-AfCFTA-ratification-instrument-depositor. 
  76. ↑ 76.0 76.1 "Gabon, Equatorial Guinea submit AfCFTA ratification to AU". http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-07/07/c_138206491.htm. 
  77. ↑ "Ethiopia deposits instruments of ratification of AfCFTA". https://au.int/ar/node/36361. 
  78. ↑ 78.0 78.1 "Kenya and Ghana deposit instruments of African Continental Free Trade Area ratification". https://www.tralac.org/news/article/13033-kenya-and-ghana-ratify-instruments-of-african-continental-free-trade-area.html. 
  79. ↑ Lusa. "Guinea-Bissau: Country is 44th member of African Continental Free Trade Area". Macau Business. https://www.macaubusiness.com/guinea-bissau-country-is-44th-member-of-african-continental-free-trade-area/. 
  80. ↑ Release, Press (6 August 2024). "AfCFTA Secretariat Applauds Liberia's Ratification of Agreement as "Remarkable," Commits to Supporting Trade and Capacity Development Initiatives". https://frontpageafricaonline.com/opinion/press-release/afcfta-secretariat-applauds-liberias-ratification-of-agreement-as-remarkable-commits-to-supporting-trade-and-capacity-development-initiatives/#google_vignette. 
  81. ↑ "Status of AfCFTA Ratification". https://www.tralac.org/resources/infographic/13795-status-of-afcfta-ratification.html. 
  82. ↑ "Malawi Ratifies AfCFTA after Submitting Instruments of Ratification". https://www.mitc.mw/index.php/media-centre/latest-news/190-free-trade-area.html. 
  83. ↑ "Malawi deposits AfCFTA ratification to AU". 2021-01-15. http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/africa/2021-01/15/c_139671191.htm. 
  84. ↑ "Deposit of the instrument of Ratification of the AfCFTA Agreement by Mauritania". https://au.int/sw/node/35799. 
  85. ↑ "Mozambique - Trade Agreements" (in en). 13 March 2024. https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/mozambique-trade-agreements. 
  86. ↑ "Niger deposits its instrument of ratification of the Agreement on the AfCFTA". https://www.tralac.org/news/article/13137-niger-deposits-its-instrument-of-ratification-of-the-agreement-on-the-afcfta.html. 
  87. ↑ "Nigeria has ratified Africa's historic free trade agreement—but its land borders remain closed". 2020-11-12. https://qz.com/africa/1932390/nigeria-ratifies-afcfta-despite-closed-benin-cameroon-borders/. 
  88. ↑ "Nigeria becomes 34th country to ratify AfCFTA agreement". 2020-12-05. https://www.uneca.org/storys/nigeria-becomes-34th-country-ratify-afcfta-agreement. 
  89. ↑ "Rwanda becomes third country to ratify A.U. free trade pact". May 27, 2018. http://www.africanews.com/2018/05/27/rwanda-becomes-third-country-to-ratify-au-free-trade-pact/. 
  90. ↑ "African Union ECOSOCC". https://www.facebook.com/africanunion.ecosocc/posts/2381006718834255/. 
  91. ↑ "President deposits SA's AfCFTA instrument of ratification". February 11, 2019. https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/president-deposits-sas-afcfta-instrument-ratification. 
  92. ↑ "Uganda deposits its instrument of ratification of the Agreement on the AfCFTA". https://www.tralac.org/news/article/13750-uganda-deposits-its-instrument-of-ratification-of-the-agreement-on-the-afcfta.html. 
  93. ↑ "Zambian cabinet approves ratification of African free trade agreement". October 27, 2020. http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-10/27/c_139471320.htm. 
  94. ↑ "Zambia is latest country to ratify the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement". February 8, 2021. https://www.uneca.org/stories/zambia-latest-country-ratify-african-continental-free-trade-area-afcfta-agreement. 
  95. ↑ "Zimbabwe's National Consultative Forum on the African continental free trade area slated for 19 June". https://www.uneca.org/stories/zimbabwe%E2%80%99s-national-consultative-forum-african-continental-free-trade-area-slated-19-june. 
  96. ↑ Buadoo, Michael (13 November 2025). "A Strategic Case for Caribbean Accession to the AfCFTA Framework toward a Global African Economic Architecture". ModernGhana. https://www.modernghana.com/news/1448366/a-strategic-case-for-caribbean-accession-to-the.html. "A combined Afro-Caribbean trade bloc would represent over 1.6 billion consumers, significantly enhancing bargaining power at the WTO, UNCTAD, IMF, and during global climate finance negotiations." 
  97. ↑ "“Trade Must Go Up”: Prime Minister Drew Calls For Africa-Caribbean Economic Renaissance". Saint Kitts & Nevis: Nevis Printing Ltd.. September 4, 2025. https://www.thestkittsnevisobserver.com/trade-must-go-up-prime-minister-drew-calls-for-africa-caribbean-economic-renaissance/. 
  98. ↑ "Whither African-Caribbean trade". Jamaica: The Gleaner. July 24, 2025. https://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20250724/whither-african-caribbean-trade. "Concerning the AU, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) provides a powerful unified market. CARICOM countries, though not members, can be involved through observer mechanisms or propose CARICOM-AfCFTA cooperation dialogues on trade facilitation, services, and investment." 
  99. ↑ McPherson Jr., Timothy Elisha (January 24, 2018). "African Union 6th Region Diaspora Headquarters to be established in Accompong, Jamaica". https://www.thestateofafricandiaspora.com/headquarters/. "African Union 6th Region Diaspora Headquarters to be established in Accompong, Jamaican -- African Union Permanent Ambassador to the USA, Hon. Dr. Arikana Chihombori Quao, has re-affirmed the decision to establish an African Union Diaspora Headquarters in Accompong Jamaica during the official ceremony to mark the anniversary of the signing of the Peace Treaty between the Accompong Maroons and the British." 
  100. ↑ "The Diaspora Division". https://www.au.int/en/diaspora-division. 
  101. ↑ "Barbados inks MOU with African Export-Import Bank". 30 September 2021. https://www.cbc.bb/cbctest/news/local-news/barbados-inks-mou-with-african-export-import-bank/. 
  102. ↑ Efegadi, Maduabuchi (June 18, 2022). "AfDB, CDB move to deepen Africa, Caribbean cooperation, sign MoU". Nigeria: Business A.M.. https://www.businessamlive.com/afdb-cdb-move-to-deepen-africa-caribbean-cooperation-sign-mou/. 
  103. ↑ "Patterson urges Africa-Caricom trade deal". Jamaica: The Gleaner. November 23, 2022. https://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/article/business/20221123/patterson-urges-africa-caricom-trade-deal. "Specifically, Patterson, who for many years had lead responsibility for trade issues for the 15-member Caribbean Community, Caricom, wants the regional trade bloc to take the lead in forging greater economic and financial ties with the ancestral motherland of the majority of the population of member countries of the integration movement, through a possible deal with the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA, which is being forged by African leaders." 
  104. ↑ "Africa–Caribbean leaders agree on visa waivers, says Antigua PM". antiguanewsroom.com (Bank of Saint Lucia Limited (BOSL)). September 15, 2025. https://www.bankofsaintlucia.com/blogs/africa-caribbean-leaders-agree-on-visa-waivers-says-antigua-pm. "Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne has announced that leaders at the recent Africa–Caribbean Summit in Addis Ababa have agreed to introduce visa-free travel between Africa and the Caribbean." 
  105. ↑ "SVG PM calls for Africa-Caribbean visa free travel". Saint Vincent Times. September 9, 2025. https://www.stvincenttimes.com/st-vincent-pm-visa-free-travel-africa-caribbean/. "St Vincent Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves has passionately advocated for visa-free travel between African and Caribbean nations, marking a significant step towards strengthening historical and cultural bonds between the two regions. Speaking at a landmark gathering in Shashemene, Ethiopia, Gonsalves highlighted the transformative potential of removing travel restrictions. Drawing from his 2005 visit to Ethiopia, he emphasized the importance of expanding visa-free policies beyond bilateral agreements, envisioning a broader continental and regional approach." 
  106. ↑ AFREXIMBANK opens Caribbean office in Barbados
  107. ↑ CARICOM Office Of Afreximbank Bank Open For Business In Barbados With US$1.5 Billion Line Of Credit Now Available To CARICOM States.
  108. ↑ "Free land at Jemmott’s Lane for Afreximbank". Barbados: Barbados Today. March 15, 2025. https://www.barbadostoday.bb/2025/03/15/free-land-at-jemmotts-lane-for-afreximbank/. 

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