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The signing of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Framework Agreement stands as one of the most historic milestones in Africa’s pursuit of economic integration and self-reliance, symbolising the continent’s resolve to translate its collective aspirations into tangible outcomes.
Negotiated between 15 June 2015 and 21 March 2018, the AfCFTA Framework Agreement—together with its three Protocols on Trade in Goods, Trade in Services, and Dispute Settlement—laid the foundation for what has become the world’s largest free trade area by membership.
The Agreement was formally signed in Kigali, Rwanda, by African Heads of State and Government, marking the dawn of a new era in the continent’s trade and development agenda.
The AfCFTA connects 1.4 billion people across 55 countries, with a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of approximately US$3.4 trillion.
Reflecting on the journey, Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, described the signing of the Framework Agreement as a turning point in Africa’s economic history.
“The signing of the AfCFTA Framework Agreement was more than a ceremonial act—it was the birth of a new vision for Africa’s future,” Mene said in a statement. “It represents a collective commitment to remove barriers that have long divided our markets and to create a single, dynamic African economy driven by trade, production, and innovation.”
Mene noted that the high-level political momentum and consensus that characterised the negotiations demonstrated Africa’s capacity to unite behind a shared goal.
“For decades, Africa’s economic narrative was shaped from outside. The AfCFTA changes that. With this Agreement, we are defining our own destiny—one built on cooperation, competitiveness, and inclusion,” he added.
The Framework Agreement not only sets the stage for the free movement of goods and services but also aimed to facilitate mobility of people and capital, paving the way for a continental common market.
The AfCFTA’s establishment has elevated Africa’s position in the global economic arena, transforming it from a fragmented set of markets into a cohesive trading bloc with immense potential for growth, industrialisation, and intra-African trade.
As the AfCFTA moves from negotiation to full implementation, the signing of its Framework Agreement remains a defining symbol of Africa’s determination to build an integrated, prosperous, and self-sustaining continent.
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