African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA): Overview and prospects

Abstract

The birth of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) was a significant milestone in the pursuit of a unified continental economic space across Africa. The paper uses a qualitative research approach, in combination with a systematic review of AfCFTA legal texts and credible secondary data sources. The findings indicate that the AfCFTA is designed as an “open and evolutionary” framework, combining ambitious and comprehensive goals with a multi-layered institutional structure. At the same time, AfCFTA is facing substantial challenges, including institutional overlap, development asymmetries among member states, and infrastructure constraints. Nevertheless, the AfCFTA’s outlook remains bright, promising to boost intra-African trade, expand regional value chains, and generate new momentum for the continent’s industrialization.