Why Africa’s free trade dream remains stalled, five years on

AfCFTA meeting

African delegates during an African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) meeting in Kigali, Rwanda on March 21, 2018. 

Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group

Five years after trading officially began under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the agreement is still struggling to take full effect.

Since its launch in January 2021, progress has been slowed by uneven implementation, persistent non-tariff barriers, weak infrastructure and wavering political commitment to harmonise national trade policies.