The AfCFTA is transforming African trade by uniting 49 countries within a $3.4 trillion market. Launched in 2021, the agreement aims to boost intra-African commerce and reduce tariffs. However, Secretary-General Wamkele Mene warns that poor infrastructure and costly trade finance are still limiting its full impact across the continent.
Launched in 2021, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) stands as the world’s largest free trade zone by number of participating countries. With 49 African nations having ratified the agreement, it brings together a market of 1.4 billion people and a combined GDP of over $3.4 trillion, opening the door to transformative opportunities in intra-African trade, business growth, and economic integration. Yet, according to Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, infrastructure remains one of the continent’s biggest obstacles to fully unlocking the agreement’s potential, limiting the movement of goods, services, and investment across borders.
The biggest constraint to intra-African trade is infrastructure. Infrastructure that supports trade is inadequate. We have seen efforts by the AfDB and African Bank Africa 50 to invest more in infrastructure that supports trade, but we’re looking at an annual infrastructure deficit of over 130 billion dollars. As I said earlier, this infrastructure deficit has a constraining effect. The second point to note about this existing trade is the inadequacy of our transport and logistics systems, which should enable the seamless movement of goods. This is also a contributing factor to the challenges we face. The third point I would make is that the cost of trade finance remains very high.
Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat
In addition to the physical infrastructure, legal and regulatory alignment is equally important for unlocking the potential of the agreement. In this context, lawyers play an essential role in harmonizing national legislation with continental protocols, drafting trade-compliant contracts and resolving cross-border disputes. Legal professionals are expected to foster trust, compliance and fairness in Africa’s evolving trade architecture.
I think lawyers have a big role to play in facilitating intra-African trade. It’s so important, just as it happens elsewhere. African countries are beginning to trade better with each other, and lawyers are in a good position to interpret the rules. For example, lawyers should be able to assist women and other entities that are trading in implementing the rules related to trade.
Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat
If fully implemented, the AfCFTA could be a turning point for African business, removing barriers, expanding markets and redefining the continent’s role in global trade.
