From division to unity: transnational integration and the power of the AfCFTA

Abstract

While African political leaders have sought to create and implement various regional integration policies, there has been slow progress in achieving results due to leadership, economic and security complexities. Africa is growing at a good pace but transforming at a slow one. Opening up borders so people and goods can move has recently become one of the African Union’s main aims, inspired by the European Union. A continental intratrade focus is perceived as an initial transformative phase on the road to complete efficient integration and robust global influence. In this context, the African continental free trade area (AfCFTA) has been conceived as a new instrument to tackle the complexity of integration barriers and remove them. This policy brief explores the projected outcomes of the implementation of the AfCFTA and argues that adopting a transnational regional approach during the implementation stage will unleash competitiveness leading to realising its full potential. Against this background, the brief focuses on supporting the emergence of a regional market that is appealing to investors and capable of fostering economic growth and job creation. It also examines how the AfCFTA complements classic regional integration endeavours.