Economic policymakers and trade experts have issued a unified call for accelerated implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to shield the continent from growing global trade volatility.
The appeal came during a high-level Djibouti conference focused on leveraging special economic zones to boost intra-African commerce.
AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene warned that recent U.S. tariff impositions threaten African exporters, particularly beneficiaries of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). “With 1,800 product categories now at risk, we must urgently diversify our trade partnerships within Africa,” Mene stated. The trade official emphasized that full AfCFTA implementation could compensate for potential AGOA losses by creating a unified $3.4 trillion continental market.
African Union Commission Chair Mahmoud Ali Youssouf highlighted the broader context of deteriorating global trade relations. “As major economies engage in tariff wars, Africa’s vulnerable position demands we fast-track our continental free trade architecture,” he said. The AU leader proposed concrete measures including cross-border free ports, digital trade platforms, and trans-African corridors to operationalize the agreement.
The conference identified special economic zones as critical catalysts for AfCFTA success. Participants examined how these zones could streamline cross-border production chains and reduce Africa’s reliance on volatile global markets. Current intra-African trade stands at just 17% of total commerce, compared to 59% in Asia and 69% in Europe.
With the AfCFTA potentially covering 1.4 billion consumers, experts stressed that removing non-tariff barriers and harmonizing regulations remain urgent priorities. The Djibouti deliberations mark a strategic push to convert the trade pact from framework to reality as global headwinds intensify, positioning regional integration as Africa’s best buffer against external economic shocks.
