A new report by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation says full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area could raise intra-African trade from 18% to 53%, dramatically reshaping the continent’s economy. The AfCFTA, which came into force in 2019, aims to create the world’s largest free trade zone by gradually eliminating tariffs across African markets. Researchers estimate the agreement could expand Africa’s manufacturing sector by $1 trillion, create $470 billion in additional income, and generate 14 million jobs by 2035. However, severe mobility bottlenecks continue to stifle implementation. To date, only four nations—Mali, Niger, Rwanda, and São Tomé and Príncipe—have formally ratified the African Union’s critical Free Movement of Persons Protocol, underscoring ongoing immigration and border policy roadblocks.
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