View source for Finance:African Continental Free Trade Area

{{Short description|Free trade area founded in 2018 with trade commencing as of 1 January 2021}}
{{Infobox treaty
|name = African Continental Free Trade Area
|image = {{ Multiimage
| align             = center
| direction         = vertical
| width             = 240px
| caption_align     = center
| image_style       = border:0;
| image1            = African Continental Free Trade Area logo.svg
| caption1          = African Continental Free Trade Area logo
| image2            = AfricanContinentalFreeTradeArea.svg
| caption2          = Status as of May 3, 2022
{{leftlegend|green|Ratifying parties}}
{{leftlegend|#66ee66|Signed March 2018, not ratified}}
{{leftlegend|#bbeebb|Signed July 2018 or later, not ratified}}
}}
|caption =
|type = [[Finance:Free-trade area|Free-trade area]]
|date_signed = March 21, 2018
|date_effective = {{start date and age|May 30, 2019}}<ref>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</ref>
|condition_effective = Ratification by 22 states
|location_signed = Kigali, Rwanda
|depositor = African Union Commission
|languages = [[Social:Arabic|Arabic]], [[Social:English language|English]], [[Social:French language|French]], [[Social:Portuguese language|Portuguese]], [[Social:Spanish language|Spanish]], [[Social:Swahili language|Swahili]]
|original_signatories =
 {{collapsible list
  |framestyle = text-align:left;border:0;padding:0;line-height:16px;white-space:nowrap;
  |titlestyle = background:transparent;text-align:left;font-weight:normal;
  |title = 44 states
|{{flaglist|Algeria}}
|{{flaglist|Angola}}
|{{flaglist|Burkina Faso}}
|{{flaglist|Cape Verde|name=Cabo Verde}}
|{{flaglist|Cameroon}}
|{{flaglist|Central African Republic}}
|{{flaglist|Chad}}
|{{flaglist|Comoros}}
|{{flaglist|Côte d'Ivoire|name=Côte d'Ivoire}}
|{{flaglist|Democratic Republic of Congo}}
|{{flaglist|Djibouti}}
|{{flaglist|Egypt}}
|{{flaglist|Equatorial Guinea}}
|{{flaglist|Eswatini}}
|{{flaglist|Ethiopia}}
|{{flaglist|Gabon}}
|{{flaglist|Gambia}}
|{{flaglist|Ghana}}
|{{flaglist|Guinea}}
|{{flaglist|Kenya}}
|{{flaglist|Liberia}}
|{{flaglist|Libya}}
|{{flaglist|Madagascar}}
|{{flaglist|Malawi}}
|{{flaglist|Mali}}
|{{flaglist|Mauritania}}
|{{flaglist|Mauritius}}
|{{flaglist|Morocco}}
|{{flaglist|Mozambique}}
|{{flaglist|Niger}}
|{{flaglist|Republic of Congo}}
|{{flaglist|Rwanda}}
|{{flaglist|Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic}}
|{{flaglist|São Tomé and Príncipe}}
|{{flaglist|Senegal}}
|{{flaglist|Seychelles}}
|{{flaglist|Somalia}}
|{{flaglist|South Sudan}}
|{{flaglist|Sudan}}
|{{flaglist|Tanzania}}
|{{flaglist|Togo}}
|{{flaglist|Tunisia}}
|{{flaglist|Uganda}}
|{{flaglist|Zimbabwe}}
}}
|signatories =
 {{collapsible list
  |framestyle = text-align:left;border:0;padding:0;line-height:16px;white-space:nowrap;
  |titlestyle = background:transparent;text-align:left;font-weight:normal;
  |title = 10 additional states<ref name=AUJun2018SummitPressRelease>{{cite web |url=https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20180706/summary-key-decisions-and-declarations-31st-african-union-summit |title=Summary of the key decisions and declarations of the 31st African Union Summit |date=July 6, 2018 | publisher=African Union |access-date=September 17, 2019}}</ref>
|{{flaglist|Benin}}
|{{flaglist|Botswana}}
|{{flaglist|Burundi}}
|{{flaglist|Guinea-Bissau}}
|{{flaglist|Lesotho}}
|{{flaglist|Namibia}}
|{{flaglist|Nigeria}}
|{{flaglist|Sierra Leone}}
|{{flaglist|South Africa}}
|{{flaglist|Zambia}}
}}
|parties =
{{collapsible list
  |framestyle = text-align:left;border:0;padding:0;line-height:16px;white-space:nowrap;
  |titlestyle = background:transparent;text-align:left;font-weight:normal;
  |title = 47 states<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tralac.org/resources/infographic/13795-status-of-afcfta-ratification.html |title=Status of AfCFTA Ratification |date=September 2023 |website=tralac.org}}</ref>
|{{flaglist|Algeria}}
|{{flaglist|Angola}}
|{{flaglist|Botswana}}
|{{flaglist|Burkina Faso}}
|{{flaglist|Burundi}}
|{{flaglist|Cape Verde|name=Cabo Verde}}
|{{flaglist|Cameroon}}
|{{flaglist|Central African Republic}}
|{{flaglist|Chad}}
|{{flaglist|Comoros}}
|{{flaglist|Côte d'Ivoire|name=Côte d'Ivoire}}
|{{flaglist|Democratic Republic of Congo}}
|{{flaglist|Djibouti}}
|{{flaglist|Egypt}}
|{{flaglist|Equatorial Guinea}}
|{{flaglist|Eswatini}}
|{{flaglist|Ethiopia}}
|{{flaglist|Gabon}}
|{{flaglist|Gambia}}
|{{flaglist|Ghana}} (May 10, 2018)<ref name=FirstRatificationsKenyaGhana />
|{{flaglist|Guinea}}
|{{flaglist|Guinea-Bissau}}
|{{flaglist|Kenya}} (May 10, 2018)<ref name=FirstRatificationsKenyaGhana />
|{{flaglist|Lesotho}} (November 2, 2020)<ref name=RatificationLesothoTunisia>{{cite news|title= Tunisia and Lesotho join growing number of countries to ratify AfCFTA one month to start of trading|url= https://www.uneca.org/stories/tunisia-and-lesotho-join-growing-number-countries-ratify-afcfta-one-month-start-trading|website= United Nations Economic Commission for Africa|date= 2020-11-30}} </ref>
|{{flaglist|Malawi}}
|{{flaglist|Mali}}
|{{flaglist|Mauritania}}<ref name="July2019IntoForce">{{cite news |title=Africa's Single Market To Come Into Force In July 2019 |url = https://ktpress.rw/2019/01/africas-single-market-to-come-into-force-in-july-2019/ |access-date=January 14, 2019 |publisher=KT Press}}</ref>
|{{flaglist|Mauritius}}
|{{flaglist|Morocco}}
|{{flaglist|Mozambique}}
|{{flaglist|Namibia}}
|{{flaglist|Nigeria}}
|{{flaglist|Niger}}
|{{flaglist|Republic of the Congo}}<ref name="QuartzFreeTrade">{{cite web |url = https://qz.com/africa/1507273/africas-free-trade-agreement-was-signed-in-2018/ |title=Africa moved the world closer to its largest free trade area since WTO in 2018|first=Abdi Latif |last=Dahir |website=Quartz Africa|date=December 26, 2018 }}</ref>
|{{flaglist|Rwanda}}
|{{flaglist|Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic}}
|{{flaglist|São Tomé and Príncipe}}
|{{flaglist|Senegal}}
|{{flaglist|Seychelles}}
|{{flaglist|Sierra Leone}}
|{{flaglist|South Africa}}
|{{flaglist|Tanzania}} (17 January 2022)<ref name="Tanzania">{{Cite tweet |author=Tanzania Embassy in Ethiopia |user=tanzaniainaddis |date=17 January 2022 |title=Ambassador deposits instrument of accession |language=English |retweet= |location=Addis Ababa |access-date=26 January 2022 |number=1482988442338439168 |ref=}}</ref>
|{{flaglist|Togo}} (December 6, 2018)<ref name="TogoRatifies">{{cite web |url=https://www.togofirst.com/en/economic-governance/0712-2169-togo-ratifies-law-to-create-african-continental-free-trade-area |title=Togo ratifies law to create African Continental Free Trade Area |first=Togo|last=First|website=www.togofirst.com}}</ref>
|{{flaglist|Tunisia}} (November 2, 2020)<ref name=RatificationLesothoTunisia />
|{{flaglist|Uganda}} (November 29, 2018)<ref name="UgandaSignsAgreement">{{cite web |url = https://face2faceafrica.com/article/uganda-officially-joins-the-africa-free-trade-deal-over-20-countries-on-the-fence |title=Uganda officially joins the Africa free trade deal, over 20 countries on the fence |date=November 29, 2018}}</ref>
|{{flaglist|Zambia}}
|{{flaglist|Zimbabwe}}
|condition_effective = at least 22 countries must submit instruments of ratification, with a deadline set of 180 days<ref name="UgandaSignsAgreement" />
}} 
}}

The '''African Continental Free Trade Area''' ('''AfCFTA''')<ref name=aj>{{cite web| url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/03/african-continental-free-trade-area-afcfta-180317191954318.html |title=African Continental Free Trade Area: What you need to know|work=Al Jazeera |author=Loes Witschge |date=March 20, 2018}}</ref> is a [[Finance:Free trade area|free trade area]] encompassing most of [[Earth:Africa|Africa]].<ref name="BBC-2018-03-21">{{cite news |date=2018-03-21 |title=African states agree massive trade bloc |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-43489255 |access-date=2018-03-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-21/africa-set-to-agree-3-trillion-trade-bloc-without-key-economy |title=Africa Set to Agree $3 Trillion Trade Bloc, Without Key Economy |date=2018-03-21 |work=Bloomberg.com |language=en |df=mdy-all |access-date=2018-03-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.africanews.com/2018/03/21/forty-four-countries-sign-historic-africa-union-free-trade-agreement/ |title=Forty-four countries sign historic African Union free trade agreement {{!}} Africanews |last=AfricaNews |work=Africanews |access-date=2018-03-21 |language=en}}</ref> It was established in 2018 by the '''African Continental Free Trade Agreement''', which has 43 parties and another 11 signatories, making it the largest [[Finance:Free-trade area|free-trade area]] by number of member states, after the [[Organization:World Trade Organization|World Trade Organization]],<ref name="cnbc">{{cite web |author=Justina Crabtree |date=March 20, 2018 |title=Africa is on the verge of forming the largest free trade area since the World Trade Organization |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/20/africa-leaders-to-form-largest-free-trade-area-since-the-wto.html |work={{wipe|CNBC}}}}</ref> 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 [[Place:Kigali|Kigali]], [[Biology:Rwanda|Rwanda]] on 21 March 2018.<ref name="econ" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arabnews.com/node/1270936/business-economy|title=44 African nations sign pact establishing free trade area|date=2018-03-21|website=Arab News |df=mdy-all |access-date=2019-04-07}}</ref> The proposal was set to come into force 30 days after ratification by 22 of the signatory states.<ref name="econ" /> On 29 April 2019,<ref name="qz">{{cite web| url=https://qz.com/africa/1586526/africa-free-trade-deal-gets-gambia-signature-to-go-into-force/ |title=Africa's historic free trade deal now has enough countries signed up to go into force
 |work=Quartz Africa |author= Abdi Latif Dahir |date=April 3, 2019 }}</ref> the Saharawi 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 7 July 2019,<ref name="aurelease">{{cite web| url=https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20190429/afcfta-agreement-secures-minimum-threshold-22-ratification-sierra-leone-and |title=AfCFTA Agreement secures minimum threshold of 22 ratification as Sierra Leone and the Saharawi Republic deposit instruments. |date=Apr 29, 2019 |publisher=African Union}}</ref> and officially commenced 1 January 2021. AfCFTA's negotiations and implementation are overseen by a permanent secretariat based in [[Place:Accra|Accra]], Ghana.<ref name=":2">U.S. International Trade Administration, [https://www.trade.gov/market-intelligence/african-continental-free-trade-area African Continental Free Trade Area] (3 January 2022).</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Akufo-Addo commissions and hands-over AfCFTA secretariat to AU commission |url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/news/akufo-addo-commissions-and-hands-over-afcfta-secretariat-to-au-commission/ |access-date=2020-12-02 |website=Joy online |language=en-gb}}</ref>

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.<ref name=":2" /> General long-term objectives include creating a [[Finance:Single market|single, liberalised market]]; reducing barriers to capital and labor to facilitate investment; developing regional infrastructure; and establishing a continental [[Finance:Customs union|customs union]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area |url=https://www.tralac.org/documents/resources/african-union/2162-afcfta-agreement-legally-scrubbed-version-signed-16-may-2018/file.html}}</ref> 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 [[Finance:Pan-African Payment and Settlement System|Pan-African Payment and Settlement System]] (PAPSS), which allows payments among companies operating in Africa to be done in any local currency.<ref name=":2" />

==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. The 1980 Lagos Plan of Action was adopted by the organization. The plan suggested Africa should minimize their 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 [[Place:Abuja|Abuja]] Treaty in 1991, which created the [[Finance:African Economic Community|African Economic Community]], an organization that promoted the development of free trade areas, customs unions, an African Central Bank, and an [[Finance:African Monetary Union|African common currency union]].<ref name="unctad">{{cite web |title=African Continental Free Trade Area: Policy and Negotiation Options for Trade in Goods |url = https://unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/webditc2016d7_en.pdf |website=unctad.org |publisher=United Nations Conference on Trade and Development |access-date=8 July 2019 |year = 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=African Union will launch operational phase of the AfCFTA at Summit in Niger |url = https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20190704/african-union-will-launch-operational-phase-afcfta-summit-niger |website=African Union |access-date=8 July 2019 |date=4 July 2019}}</ref>

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".<ref>{{cite web |title=Constitutive Act of the African Union |url = https://au.int/sites/default/files/pages/34873-file-constitutiveact_en.pdf |website=au.int |publisher=African Union |access-date = 8 July 2019 |quote = Article 3c: "accelerate the political and socio-economic integration of the continent;"}}</ref>  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."<ref>{{cite web |title=Constitutive Act of the African Union |url=https://au.int/sites/default/files/pages/34873-file-constitutiveact_en.pdf |website=au.int |publisher=African Union |access-date=8 July 2019 |quote=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;"}}</ref>

===Negotiations===

At the 2012 African Union summit in [[Place:Addis Ababa|Addis Ababa]], leaders agreed to create a new Continental Free Trade Area by 2017. At the 2015 AU summit in [[Place:Johannesburg|Johannesburg]], the summit agreed to commence negotiations. This began a series of ten negotiating sessions which took place over the next three years.<ref name="unctad"/><ref name="Brookings">{{cite web |last1=Signé |first1=Landry |last2=van der Ven |first2=Colette |title=Keys to success for the AfCFTA negotiations |url=https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Keys_to_success_for_AfCFTA.pdf |website=Brookings |access-date=8 July 2019 |date=May 2019}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tralac.org/resources/by-region/cfta.html|title=African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Legal Texts and Policy Documents|last=tralac|first=trade law centre|website=tralac.org|access-date=March 28, 2018}}</ref>

===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 [https://www.tralac.org/documents/resources/african-union/1970-kigali-declaration-for-the-launch-of-the-afcfta-21-march-2018-1/file.html Kigali Declaration]; and the [https://au.int/sites/default/files/treaties/36403-treaty-protocol_on_free_movement_of_persons_in_africa_e.pdf 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.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gwatiwa |first1=Tshepo T. |last2=Sam |first2=Michael Noel |title=How the free movement of people could benefit Africa |url=http://theconversation.com/how-the-free-movement-of-people-could-benefit-africa-92057 |website=The Conversation |date=March 14, 2018 |access-date=7 July 2019}}</ref>  At the summit in [[Place:Kigali|Kigali]] on 21 March 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 {{wipe|South Africa}}, the two largest economies in Africa.<ref>{{cite web |last = Shaban |first = Abdur Rahman Alfa |title=Forty-four countries sign historic African Union free trade agreement |url = https://www.africanews.com/2018/03/21/forty-four-countries-sign-historic-africa-union-free-trade-agreement// |website=AfricaNews |date = March 21, 2018 |access-date=7 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Legal Texts and Policy Documents |url = https://www.tralac.org/resources/our-resources/6730-continental-free-trade-area-cfta.html |website=Tralac |publisher=Tralac Trade Law Centre |access-date=7 July 2019}}</ref><ref name="tralac1">{{cite web |title=African Union Legal Resources and Policy Documents |url = https://www.tralac.org/resources/by-region/african-union-resources.html |website=Tralac |access-date=8 July 2019 }}</ref>

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.{{NoteTag|There are eight Regional Economic Communities recognised by the African Union, each established under a separate regional treaty. 
* [[Organization:Arab Maghreb Union|Arab Maghreb Union]] (UMA)
* [[Organization:Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa|Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa]] (COMESA)
* [[Organization:Community of Sahel-Saharan States|Community of Sahel-Saharan States]] (CEN-SAD)
* [[Organization:East African Community|East African Community]] (EAC)
* [[Organization:Economic Community of Central African States|Economic Community of Central African States]] (ECCAS)
* [[Organization:Economic Community of West African States|Economic Community of West African States]] (ECOWAS)
* [[Organization:Intergovernmental Authority on Development|Intergovernmental Authority on Development]] (IGAD)
* Southern African Development Community (SADC) }} 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.<ref name="unctad"/><ref name="tralac1"/><ref name="Reuters">{{cite news |last1=Balima |first1=Boureima |title=Economic 'game changer'? African leaders launch free-trade zone |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-africa-trade/economic-game-changer-african-leaders-launch-free-trade-zone-idUSKCN1U20BX |website=Reuters |date=July 8, 2019 |access-date=8 July 2019}}</ref><ref name="tralac3">{{cite web |last1=Erasmus |first1=Gerhard |title=How will the AfCFTA be established and its Legal Instruments be implemented? |url=https://www.tralac.org/discussions/article/12869-how-will-the-afcfta-be-established-and-its-legal-instruments-be-implemented.html |website=Tralac |access-date=8 July 2019 |date=22 March 2018}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Declarations signed at the 2018 Kigali summit<ref>{{cite web |title=INDICATION OF LEGAL INSTRUMENTS SIGNED AT THE 10TH EXTRAORDINARY SESSION OF THE ASSEMBLY ON THE LAUNCH OF THE AFCFTA |url = https://www.tralac.org/documents/resources/african-union/1831-legal-instruments-signed-at-10th-extraordinary-summit-on-afcfta-21-march-2018/file.html |website=Tralac |access-date=8 July 2019 }}</ref>
|-
! Country
! Signed By
! AfCFTA Consolidated Text (signature)
! Kigali Declaration
! Free Movement Protocol
|-
| {{DZA}}
| Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
|-
| {{AGO}}
| President João Lourenço
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
|-
| {{CAF}}
| President Faustin Archange Touadéra
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
|-
| {{TCD}}
| President Idriss Déby
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
|-
| {{COM}}
| President Azali Assoumani
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
|-
| {{DJI}}
| President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
|- 
| {{GNQ}}
| Prime Minister Francisco Pascual Obama Asue
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
|-
| {{SWZ}}
| Prime Minister Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
|-
| {{GAB}}
| President Ali Bongo Ondimba
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
|-
| {{GMB}}
| President Adama Barrow
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
|-
| {{GHA}}
| President Nana Akufo-Addo
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
|-
| {{CIV}}
| Vice President Daniel Kablan Duncan
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
|-
| {{KEN}}
| President Uhuru Kenyatta
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
|-
| {{LSO}}
| Prime Minister Tom Thabane	
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
|-
| {{MRT}}
| President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
|-
| {{MAR}}
| Prime Minister Saadeddine Othmani
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
|-
| {{MOZ}}
| President Filipe Nyusi
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
|-
| {{NER}}
| President Mahamadou Issoufou
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
|-
| {{COG}}
| President Denis Sassou Nguesso
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
|-
| {{RWA}}
| President Paul Kagame
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
|-
| President Brahim Ghali
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
|-
| {{SEN}}
| President Macky Sall
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
|-
| {{SYC}}
| Vice President Vincent Meriton
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
|-
| {{ZAF}}
| President Cyril Ramaphosa
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
|-
| {{SDN}}
| Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
|- 
| {{TZA}}
| Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
|-
| {{UGA}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
|-
| {{ZWE}}
| 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.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://au.int/sites/default/files/documents/33984-doc-qa_cfta_en_rev15march.pdf|title=African Continental Free Trade Area - Questions & Answers|date=March 15, 2018|website=au.int|publisher=African Union|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403214541/https://au.int/sites/default/files/documents/33984-doc-qa_cfta_en_rev15march.pdf|archive-date=April 3, 2019|url-status=dead|access-date=March 28, 2018|df=mdy-all}}</ref> In January 2020, AU Assembly negotiations are envisaged to be concluded.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://au.int/sites/default/files/decisions/34055-ext_assembly_dec_1x_e26_march.pdf|title=Decision on the draft agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)|date=March 21, 2018|website=au.int|publisher=African Union}}</ref> A draft is expected for the January 2020 AU Assembly.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://au.int/sites/default/files/decisions/34055-ext_assembly_dec_1x_e26_march.pdf |title=Decision on the draft agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) |date=March 21, 2018 |website=au.int |publisher=African Union }}</ref>{{Update inline|date=January 2021|reason=}}

===Expectations===
In 2018, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa estimated that AfCFTA will boost intra-African trade by 52 percent by 2022.<ref name="alj" /> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The African Continental Free Trade Area |url=https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/trade/publication/the-african-continental-free-trade-area |access-date=2022-06-27 |website=World Bank |language=en}}</ref> 

==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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tralac.org/discussions/article/12869-how-will-the-afcfta-be-established-and-its-legal-instruments-be-implemented.html|title=How will the AfCFTA be established and its Legal Instruments be implemented?|last=Erasmus|first=Gerhard|date=March 22, 2018|work=tralac Discussion|access-date=2018-03-28|publisher=trade law centre}}</ref>

The AfCFTA Secretariat will be responsible for coordinating the implementation of the agreement and shall be an autonomous body within the AU system. Though it will have independent legal personality, it shall work closely with the AU Commission and receive its budget from the AU. The Council of Ministers responsible for trade will decide on the location of the headquarter, structure, role and responsibilities.<ref name=":0" /> 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.<ref name=":1">{{cite news|url=https://www.tralac.org/discussions/article/12838-the-legal-and-institutional-architecture-of-the-agreement-establishing-the-african-continental-free-trade-area.html|title=The legal and institutional architecture of the Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area|last=Chidede|first=Talkmore|date=March 15, 2018|work=tralac Discussion|access-date=2018-03-28|publisher=trade law centre}}</ref> The Council of Ministers Responsible for Trade provides strategic trade policy oversight and ensures effective implementation and enforcement of the AfCFTA Agreement.<ref name=":1" />

Several committees have been established, for trade in goods, trade in services, on [[Finance:Rules of origin|rules of origin]], trade remedies, non-tariff barriers, technical barriers to trade and on sanitary and phytosanitary measures.<ref name=":1" /> Dispute resolution mechanisms<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-22 |title=9th Meeting of the AfCFTA Dispute Settlement Body - AfCFTA |url=https://au-afcfta.org/2023/03/9th-meeting-of-the-afcfta-dispute-settlement-body/ |access-date=2023-06-20 |language=en-US}}</ref> and procedures are still being negotiated, but will presumably include designation of a dispute resolution body.<ref name=":0" /> 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.<ref name=":1" />

== Implementation ==

The AfCFTA is set to be implemented in phases, and some of the future phases still under negotiation.<ref name="tralac3" /> Phase I covers trade in goods and trade in services. Phase II covers [[Social:Intellectual property|intellectual property rights]], [[Finance:Investment|investment]] and competition policy. Phase III covers [[Social:E-commerce|E-Commerce]].

At the 2018 Kigali summit, areas of agreement were found on trade protocols, dispute settlement procedures, customs cooperation, trade facilitation, and [[Finance:Rules of origin|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.<ref name="Brookings" /> 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 [[Finance:Tariff|tariff]] concessions and other specific commitments.<ref name="Brookings" /><ref name="tralac3" />

The 12th Extraordinary Session of the African Union on AfCFTA was called to launch the new agreement into its operational phase, which was hosted in [[Place:Niamey|Niamey]] on 7 July 2019.<ref>{{cite web |date=April 29, 2019 |title=AfCFTA Agreement secures minimum threshold of 22 ratification as Sierra Leone and the Saharawi Republic deposit instruments. |url=https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20190429/afcfta-agreement-secures-minimum-threshold-22-ratification-sierra-leone-and |access-date=July 7, 2019 |website=African Union}}</ref><ref name="AP July 7">{{cite web |last1=Meldrum |first1=Andrew |title=African leaders to launch continent-wide free trade zone |url=https://www.apnews.com/e5ab779ada5e40c2a2ae782f844e519a |access-date=July 7, 2019 |website=AP News |date=July 7, 2019 |publisher=Associated Press}}</ref> At its launch, five operational instruments that will govern the AfCFTA were activated: "the [[Finance:Rules of origin|rules of origin]]; the online negotiating forum; the monitoring and elimination of non-tariff barriers; a [[Finance:Pan-African Payment and Settlement System|digital payment system]]; and the African Trade Observatory."<ref>{{cite web |date=7 July 2019 |title=Operational phase of the African Continental Free Trade Area is launched at Niger Summit of the African Union |url=https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20190707/operational-phase-african-continental-free-trade-area-launched-niger-summit |access-date=8 July 2019 |website=African Union }}</ref>

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.<ref name="Brookings" /><ref name="tralac3" /> 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.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 1, 2021 |title=After months of COVID delays, African free trade bloc launches |language=en |work=aljazeera.com |publisher=Al Jazeera English |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/1/1/after-months-of-covid-delays-african-free-trade-bloc-launches |access-date=January 2, 2021}}</ref>

==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.<ref name="reuters" />  After the 2018 Kigali summit, more signatures were added to the AfCFTA. At the 31st African Union Summit in [[Place:Nouakchott|Nouakchott]] on 1 July 2018, {{wipe|South Africa}} (the second largest economy of Africa), Sierra Leone, Namibia, Lesotho and Burundi joined the agreement.<ref>{{cite web |title=More countries sign the African free trade area agreement |url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/business/African-free-trade-area-agreement-signing/2560-4644458-nutmsnz/index.html |access-date=2019-04-07 |website=The East African |df=mdy-all}}</ref>  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.<ref name=FirstRatificationsKenyaGhana>{{cite web |url = https://au.int/en/newsevents/20180510/kenya-and-ghana-ratify-instruments-african-continental-free-trade-area|title=Kenya and Ghana to ratify instruments of African Continental Free Trade Area {{!}} African Union |website=au.int |language=en |df=mdy-all |access-date=2018-05-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511144610/https://au.int/en/newsevents/20180510/kenya-and-ghana-ratify-instruments-african-continental-free-trade-area |archive-date=May 11, 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> 

Of the signatories, 22 needed to deposit the instrument of ratification of the agreement for it to come into effect, and this occurred on 29 April 2019 when both Sierra Leone and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic deposited the agreement.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.tralac.org/resources/by-region/cfta.html |title=African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Legal Texts and Policy Documents |language=en-gb |access-date=October 30, 2019}}</ref> As a result, the agreement came into force 30 days later on 30 May 2019. At this point, only Nigeria (the continent's largest economy), Eritrea and Benin had not signed. 

President of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari was particularly reluctant to join the AfCFTA, fearing it would hurt Nigerian entrepreneurship and local industries,<ref name="cnn" /> and his decision not to was praised by some local groups including the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria<ref name="NigeriaNotSigned">{{cite news |title=Nigeria's Buhari explains failure to sign continental free trade agreement |url=http://www.africanews.com/2018/03/23/nigeria-s-buhari-explains-failure-to-sign-continental-free-trade-agreement// |access-date=24 December 2018}}</ref> and the Nigeria Labour Congress.<ref>{{cite news |title=Why Nigeria, South Africa did not join other Nations to sign Continental Free Trade agreement |url=https://www.pulse.ng/bi/strategy/strategy-why-nigeria-south-africa-did-not-join-other-nations-to-sign-continental-free/1sfvms6 |access-date=24 December 2018}}</ref> The Nigerian government intended to consult further with local businesses in order to ensure private sector buy-in to the agreement,<ref>{{cite news |title=Why Nigeria had good reasons to delay signing Africa's free trade deal |url=https://theconversation.com/why-nigeria-had-good-reasons-to-delay-signing-africas-free-trade-deal-100203 |access-date=24 December 2018}}</ref> because a key concern was whether the agreement adequately prevented anti-competitive practices such as [[Social:Dumping (pricing policy)|dumping]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Nigeria: Why We Are Worried Over African Free Trade Agreement - Dangote, MAN, LCCI |url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201811080199.html |access-date=24 December 2018}}</ref> In July 2019, just months after being re-elected to a new term, Buhari agreed to adhere the Africa free trade at the 12th extraordinary session of the assembly of the union on AfCFTA.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kazeem |first=Yomi |date=July 3, 2019 |title=Africa's largest economy is finally backing the continent's plans for a single free trade market |url=https://qz.com/africa/1657861/nigeria-to-sign-africa-free-trade-agreement-afcfta/ |website=Quartz Africa}}</ref>

At the same meeting, Benin also committed to signing the agreement, leaving Eritrea as the only of the 55 African Union Member States not to sign up to the deal.<ref>{{cite web |last=AfricaNews |date=2019-07-06 |title=Eritrea now sole outsiders of free trade deal as Nigeria, Benin sign up |url=https://www.africanews.com/2019/07/06/eritrea-now-sole-outsiders-of-free-trade-deal-as-nigeria-benin-sign-up/ |access-date=2019-07-07 |website=Africanews |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=2019-07-03 |title=Nigeria finally commits to signing the Africa free trade agreement |url=https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/nigeria-finally-commits-to-signing-the-africa-free-trade-agreement/ |access-date=2019-07-07 |website=The South African |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="AP July 7" /> 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.<ref name="BBC-2018-03-21" /><ref name="tralac1" /><ref name=bbc20190707/><ref name="BBC2">{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Mayeni |date=7 July 2019 |title=Nigeria signs African free trade area agreement |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-48899701 |access-date=8 July 2019 |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Ighobor |first1=Kingsley |date=Aug–Nov 2018 |title=Africa set for a massive free trade area |newspaper=Africa Renewal |publisher=United Nations |url=https://www.un.org/africarenewal/magazine/august-november-2018/africa-set-massive-free-trade-area |access-date=8 July 2019}}</ref><ref name="tralac2">{{cite web |title=Status of AfCFTA Ratification |url=https://www.tralac.org/resources/infographics/13795-status-of-afcfta-ratification.html |access-date=8 July 2019 |website=Tralac }}</ref>{{update after|2022|11|21}}<!-- so it is now 2+ years later; did Eritrea ever sign on to the agreement? -->

As of May 2022, there are 54 signatories, of which 43 (80%) have deposited their instruments of ratification.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ndlovu |first1=Sitshengisiwe |title=AfCFTA establishment pushed to 2021 by Covid-19 |url=https://www.herald.co.zw/afcfta-establishment-pushed-to-2021-by-covid-19/ |access-date=21 August 2020 |work=The Herald |date=July 23, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Statement of H.E. Mr. Wamkele Mene on the Occasion of Swearing-in as the Secretary General of the AfCFTA Secretariat |url=https://au.int/en/speeches/20200319/statement-he-mr-wamkele-mene-occasion-swearing-secretary-general-afcfta |access-date=21 August 2020 |publisher=African Union |date=March 19, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Tralac May 2020">{{cite news |title=AfCFTA: Towards the African Continental Free Trade Area |url=https://www.tralac.org/resources/infographic/13795-status-of-afcfta-ratification.html |access-date=21 August 2020 |work=Tralac |date=May 6, 2020}}</ref> Additionally, one country (Somalia) completed its domestic ratification{{when|date=November 2022}}, but had not yet deposited their ratification with the depository by May 2020.<ref name="Tralac May 2020" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-08/14/c_139291333.htm|title=Somalia approves Africa free trade area treaty for ratification - Xinhua &#124; English.news.cn|website=www.xinhuanet.com}}</ref>  Eritrea is the only AU member state which had not signed the agreement by 2019.<ref name=bbc20190707/>

===List of signatories and parties to the agreement===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Ratification Status of African Nations<ref name="AU LIST">{{cite web |date=October 8, 2019 |title=Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area |url=https://au.int/en/treaties/agreement-establishing-african-continental-free-trade-area |access-date=October 14, 2019 |website=African Union }}</ref>
|-
! Country
! Signed
! Date of Signing
! Ratified
! Date of Ratification
! Deposited
! Date of Deposit
|-
| {{DZA}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2021|06|07}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2021|06|23}}<ref>{{Cite web|url= http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/africa/2021-06/25/c_1310026264.htm|title= UNECA announces initiative to spur role of AfCFTA in Africa's post-COVID-19 economic recovery|date= 2021-06-25}}</ref>
|-
| {{AGO}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2020|10|06}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2020|11|04}}<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.africannewspage.net/2020/11/angola-becomes-30th-state-party-to-the-afcfta-by-depositing-instruments-of-ratification/|title= Angola becomes 30th state party to the AfCFTA by depositing instruments of ratification|author= Abdulrahman Olagunju|date= 2020-11-04}}</ref>
|-
| {{BEN}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|07|07}}
| {{No}}
|
| {{No}}
| 
|-
| {{BWA}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|02|10}}
| {{Yes}}
| 
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2023|02|19}}
|-
| {{BFA}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|05|27}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|05|29}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://northafricapost.com/31338-africas-free-trade-zone-kicks-off.html |title=Africa's Free Trade Zone Kicks-Off |access-date=January 10, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| {{BDI}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|07|02}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2021|06|17}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2021|08|26}}
|-
| {{CMR}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2020|01|31}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2020|12|01}}
|-
| {{CAF}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2020|04|09}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2020|09|22}}
|-
| {{CPV}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2020|11|13}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2022|02|05}}
|-
| {{TCD}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|06|29}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|07|02}}<ref name="en.igihe.com">{{cite web |url=http://en.igihe.com/news/five-more-countries-sign-two-ratify-afcfta-at-au.html |title=Five more countries sign, two ratify AfCFTA at AU Summit |access-date=January 10, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| {{CIV}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|11|13}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|11|23}}
|-
| {{COM}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{Yes}}
|
| {{Yes}}
|| {{dts|format=mdy|2023|02|19}}
|-
| {{COG}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|02|07}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|02|10}}
|-
| {{COD}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2022|01|28}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2022|02|23}}
|-
| {{DJI}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|02|05}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|02|11}}
|-
| {{EGY}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|02|27}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|04|08}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/3/68092/Egypt-is-18th-AfCFTA-ratification-instrument-depositor |title=Egypt is 18th AfCFTA ratification instrument depositor |date=April 8, 2019 |access-date=January 10, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| {{GNQ}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|06|28}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|07|02}}<ref name="Gabon, Equatorial Guinea">{{cite web |url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-07/07/c_138206491.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190707143303/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-07/07/c_138206491.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 7, 2019 |title=Gabon, Equatorial Guinea submit AfCFTA ratification to AU |access-date=January 10, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| {{ERI}}
| {{No}}
| 
| {{No}}
|
| {{No}}
| 
|-
| {{SWZ}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|06|21}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|07|02}}<ref name="en.igihe.com"/>
|-
| {{ETH}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|03|23}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|04|10}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://au.int/ar/node/36361 |title=Ethiopia deposits instruments of ratification of AfCFTA |access-date=January 10, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| {{GAB}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|07|02}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|07|07}}<ref name="Gabon, Equatorial Guinea" />
|-
| {{GMB}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|04|11}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|04|16}}
|-
| {{GHA}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|05|07}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|05|10}}<ref name="Kenya and Ghana">{{cite web |url=https://www.tralac.org/news/article/13033-kenya-and-ghana-ratify-instruments-of-african-continental-free-trade-area.html |title=Kenya and Ghana deposit instruments of African Continental Free Trade Area ratification |access-date=January 10, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| {{GIN}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|07|31}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|10|16}}
|-
| {{GNB}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|02|08}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2022|08|31}}<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lusa |title=Guinea-Bissau: Country is 44th member of African Continental Free Trade Area |url=https://www.macaubusiness.com/guinea-bissau-country-is-44th-member-of-african-continental-free-trade-area/ |access-date=24 January 2023 |publisher=Macau Business}}</ref>
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2022|08|31}}
|-
| {{KEN}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|05|06}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|05|10}}<ref name="Kenya and Ghana" />
|-
| {{LSO}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|07|02}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2020|10|20}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2020|11|27}}
|-
| {{LBR}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{No}}
|
| {{No}}
| 
|-
| {{LBY}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{No}}
|
| {{No}}
| 
|-
| {{MDG}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{No}}
|
| {{No}}
| 
|-
| {{MWI}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2020|11|01}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mitc.mw/index.php/media-centre/latest-news/190-free-trade-area.html |title= Malawi Ratifies AfCFTA after Submitting Instruments of Ratification|access-date=February 22, 2021}}</ref>
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2021|01|15}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/africa/2021-01/15/c_139671191.htm |title= Malawi deposits AfCFTA ratification to AU|date= 2021-01-15|access-date=February 22, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| {{MLI}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|01|11}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|02|01}}
|-
| {{MRT}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|01|31}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|02|11}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://au.int/sw/node/35799 |title=Deposit of the instrument of Ratification of the AfCFTA Agreement by Mauritania |access-date=January 10, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| {{MUS}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|09|30}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|10|07}}
|-
| {{MAR}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2022|02|24}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2022|04|18}}
|-
| {{MOZ}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{Yes}}
|
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2023|07|05}}
|-
| {{NAM}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|07|02}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|01|25}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|02|01}}
|-
| {{NER}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|05|28}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|06|19}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tralac.org/news/article/13137-niger-deposits-its-instrument-of-ratification-of-the-agreement-on-the-afcfta.html |title=Niger deposits its instrument of ratification of the Agreement on the AfCFTA |access-date=January 10, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| {{NGA}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|07|07}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2020|12|03}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://qz.com/africa/1932390/nigeria-ratifies-afcfta-despite-closed-benin-cameroon-borders/ |title= Nigeria has ratified Africa's historic free trade agreement—but its land borders remain closed|date= 2020-11-12|access-date=November 14, 2020}}</ref>
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2020|12|05}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uneca.org/storys/nigeria-becomes-34th-country-ratify-afcfta-agreement |title= Nigeria becomes 34th country to ratify AfCFTA agreement|date= 2020-12-05|access-date=February 22, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| {{RWA}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|05|25}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|05|26}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.africanews.com/2018/05/27/rwanda-becomes-third-country-to-ratify-au-free-trade-pact/ |title=Rwanda becomes third country to ratify A.U. free trade pact |date=May 27, 2018 |access-date=January 10, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|04|27}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|04|30}}
|-
| {{STP}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|05|28}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|06|27}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/africanunion.ecosocc/posts/2381006718834255/ |title=African Union ECOSOCC |website=[[Company:Facebook|Facebook]] |access-date=January 10, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| {{SEN}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|03|12}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|04|02}}
|-
| {{SYC}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2021|07|08}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2021|09|15}}
|-
| {{SLE}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|07|02}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|04|19}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|04|30}}
|-
| {{SOM}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{Yes}}
|
| {{No}}
|
|-
| {{ZAF}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|07|02}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|01|31}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|02|10}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/president-deposits-sas-afcfta-instrument-ratification |title=President deposits SA's AfCFTA instrument of ratification |access-date=January 10, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| {{SSD}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{No}}
|
| {{No}}
| 
|-
| {{SDN}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{No}}
|
| {{No}}
| 
|-
| {{TZA}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2022|01|17}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2022|01|17}}<ref name="Tanzania"/>
|-
| {{TGO}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|01|09}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|04|02}}
|-
| {{TUN}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2020|09|07}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2020|11|27}}
|-
| {{UGA}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|11|20}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|02|09}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tralac.org/news/article/13750-uganda-deposits-its-instrument-of-ratification-of-the-agreement-on-the-afcfta.html |title=Uganda deposits its instrument of ratification of the Agreement on the AfCFTA |access-date=January 10, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| {{ZMB}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|02|10}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2021|01|28}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-10/27/c_139471320.htm |title=Zambian cabinet approves ratification of African free trade agreement |date=October 27, 2020|access-date=February 22, 2021}}</ref>
| {{yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2021|02|05}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uneca.org/stories/zambia-latest-country-ratify-african-continental-free-trade-area-afcfta-agreement |title=Zambia is latest country to ratify the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement |date=February 8, 2021|access-date=February 22, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| {{ZWE}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2018|03|21}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|04|25}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dts|format=mdy|2019|05|24}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uneca.org/stories/zimbabwe%E2%80%99s-national-consultative-forum-african-continental-free-trade-area-slated-19-june |title=Zimbabwe's National Consultative Forum on the African continental free trade area slated for 19 June |access-date=January 10, 2020 |archive-date=August 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190814122820/https://www.uneca.org/stories/zimbabwe%E2%80%99s-national-consultative-forum-african-continental-free-trade-area-slated-19-june |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|}

===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.<ref name=bbc20190707>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-48899701|title=Nigeria signs African free trade area agreement|publisher=BBC|date=2019-07-07|access-date=2019-07-07}}</ref>{{update after|2022|11|21}}

==Human rights assessment==
A July 2017 United Nations Economic Commission for Africa report argues that the CFTA may contribute to tackling poverty and inequality as its wide scope will facilitate structural changes in African economies. It is seen as a step towards meeting the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals. The document was targeted to ensuring human rights were considered within the negotiations.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://repository.uneca.org/handle/10855/24089 |title=Report: the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) in a human rights perspective |date=July 2017 |publisher=UN Economic Commission for Africa |isbn=9783958618596 |access-date=6 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uneca.org/sites/default/files/PublicationFiles/policy_brief_building_sustainable_and_inclusive.pdf |title=Building a Sustainable and Inclusive Continental Free Trade Area - Nine Priority Recommendations from a Human Rights Perspective |publisher=UN Economic Commission for Africa |date=July 2017 |access-date=6 June 2020 |archive-date=July 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719173611/https://www.uneca.org/sites/default/files/PublicationFiles/policy_brief_building_sustainable_and_inclusive.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

According to Food and Agriculture Organization, recognizing the intersections of gender, agriculture, and trade, it is critical to ensure that the implementation of the AfCFTA addresses the nuanced and varied challenges that women face.<ref name=":02">{{Cite book |url=https://doi.org/10.4060/cb6966en |title=Seizing the opportunities of the African Continental Free Trade Area for the economic empowerment of women in agriculture |publisher=FAO |year=2021 |isbn=978-92-5-135021-8 |location=Accra|doi=10.4060/cb6966en |s2cid=244712893 }}</ref> It is vital that the operationalization of the AfCFTA agreement ensures that future trade policies, practices, and regulations promote gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls on the African continent, especially in supporting women to seize the new opportunities created ‘in agriculture’ by the AfCFTA.<ref name=":02" /> Implementation of the agreement that is not inclusive of women could result in a widening gender gap by negatively affecting women-led micro, small, or medium-sized enterprises and those who rely on informal trade (including cross border) for their livelihoods.<ref name=":02" />

==See also==
{{div col}}
* [[Finance:ASEAN Free Trade Area|ASEAN Free Trade Area]]
* [[Organization:Caribbean Community|Caribbean Community]] (CARICOM)
** [[Finance:CARICOM Single Market and Economy|CARICOM Single Market and Economy]]
* [[Organization:Central European Free Trade Agreement|Central European Free Trade Agreement]]
* [[Organization:Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa|Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa]]
* [[Finance:Commonwealth of Independent States Free Trade Area|Commonwealth of Independent States Free Trade Area]]
* [[Finance:Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership|Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership]]
* [[Organization:Council of Arab Economic Unity|Council of Arab Economic Unity]]
* [[Finance:Free trade agreement|Free trade agreement]]
* [[Finance:Free-trade area|Free-trade area]]
* [[Finance:Free trade areas in Europe|Free trade areas in Europe]]
* [[Finance:Market access|Market access]]
* Single African Air Transport Market
* Rules of Origin
* Tariffs
* Tourism in Africa
* [[Finance:Tripartite Free Trade Area|Tripartite Free Trade Area]]
{{end div col}}

== Notes ==
{{NoteFoot}}

== Source ==

{{Free-content attribution
| title = Seizing the opportunities of the African Continental Free Trade Area for the economic empowerment of women in agriculture
| author = FAO
| publisher = FAO
| page numbers = 
| source = 
| documentURL = https://doi.org/10.4060/cb6966en
| license statement URL = https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Seizing_the_opportunities_of_the_African_Continental_Free_Trade_Area_for_the_economic_empowerment_of_women_in_agriculture.pdf
| license = CC BY-SA 3.0
}}

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=

<ref name="alj">{{cite web |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/03/african-continental-free-trade-area-afcfta-180317191954318.html |title=African Continental Free Trade Area: What you need to know |last=Witschge |first=Loes |publisher=Al-Jazeera |date=March 20, 2018}}</ref>

<ref name="cnn">{{cite web |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/22/africa/african-trade-agreement-world/index.html |title=44 African countries agree free trade agreement, Nigeria yet to sign |last=Giles |first=Chris |publisher=CNN |date=March 22, 2018}}</ref>

<ref name="econ">{{cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21739224-nigeria-among-protectionist-holdouts-forty-four-african-countries-sign |title=Forty-four African countries sign a free-trade deal |newspaper=[[Finance:The Economist|The Economist]] |date=March 22, 2018}}</ref>

<ref name="reuters">{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-africa-trade/nigeria-keen-to-ensure-africa-trade-bloc-good-for-itself-president-idUSKBN1GX29V |title=Nigeria keen to ensure Africa trade bloc good for itself: president |publisher={{wipe|Reuters}} |last=Uwiringiyimana |first=Clement |date=March 21, 2018}}</ref>

}}

==External links==
* {{official}}
* [https://unctad.org/topic/africa/support-to-african-continental-free-trade-area UNCTAD support to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)]
*[https://findrulesoforigin.org/home/agreement-detail?fta=853 African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) page] on the Rules of Origin Facilitator, with member countries' status and access to legal documents.

{{Africa in topic|Economy of}}

[[Category:Free trade agreements]]
[[Category:Trade blocs]]


fr:Zone de libre-échange continentale africaine

{{Sourceattribution|African Continental Free Trade Area}}