AfCFTA and Economic Integration in Africa: Issues in Implementation and Development

The African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) is renowned as Africa’s most current and comprehensive approach to economic integration since the sidetracking of the Abuja Treaty of 1994 which established the African Economic Community. Although touted as having the potential of transforming African economies in the 21st century, the free trade agreement faces a number of challenges in Africa’s ecosystem, with which it must contend. These include but not limited to digital infrastructure deficits, poor government policies, limited trade/market access in Africa, security challenges, poor border governance, diseases spread, etc. To varying degrees, those challenges impact the implementation of the AfCFTA and regional economic integration/development. Examining how and why AfCFTA is impacted represent the main thrust of this paper. The study employs a conceptual/thematic approach and integrates qualitative data from primary and secondary sources in interrogating the subject of regional economic integration in Africa. The research found that the challenges confronting AfCFTA are not just crippling, they are existential. These crises first affect African entrepreneurs directly and, by extension, undermine the implementation of the AfCFTA since its ratification. Thus, more robust and broad ranging strategies are required to review, recalibrate and advance the AfCFTA.