Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, President of the Council of the Republic of Togo, framed the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a vehicle for continental self-determination Monday, using the opening of Biashara Afrika2026 to demand faster action on breaking down barriers that continue to fragment Africa’s market.
“AfCFTA is a sovereignty tool for the continent’s economy,” Gnassingbé told delegates at the third edition of the continental business forum, calling for “urgent action to turn the promise of the AfCFTA into real economic transformation for Africa.”
The Togolese leader’s intervention adds high-level political momentum to a gathering focused on converting the AfCFTA’s legal framework into operational commercial reality. His emphasis on sovereignty comes as African policymakers navigate an increasingly fractured global trading environment marked by rising protectionism and supply chain geopolitics.
Gnassingbé highlighted persistent structural barriers that continue to undermine intra-African commerce, including high logistics costs, non-tariff barriers, and border inefficiencies. He stressed that “Africa must move faster to facilitate the movement of goods and people across the continent”, a pointed acknowledgment that ratification and rule-making have outpaced the physical and regulatory infrastructure needed to move products seamlessly across borders.
In a direct response to global headwinds, Gnassingbé underscored that “no African economy can defend its interests alone,” making the case that regional integration has shifted from aspirational goal to strategic necessity. He stressed that “Africa’s transformation will be driven by stronger regional value chains, a competitive private sector, and ensuring women, youth, and African SMEs fully benefit from the opportunities created by the AfCFTA.”
The president’s remarks points to a focus on inclusive participation within the continental market, addressing longstanding concerns that large economies and established corporates have captured disproportionate early benefits from the agreement while smaller operators, particularly women-led and youth-led enterprises struggle with compliance costs, trade finance gaps, and information asymmetries.
Togo’s role as host carries symbolic weight. The nation has positioned itself as a financial services hub, anchored by institutions including Ecobank, and as a logistics corridor for landlocked neighbors, offering a working model of the trade facilitation Gnassingbé advocated.
The president’s call for speed aligns with broader urgency expressed by AfCFTA leadership. Intra-Africa trade reached a record $220 billion in 2024, up 12.5% year-on-year according to Afreximbank, though the figure remains a fraction of the continent’s total commerce and heavily concentrated in a handful of economies.
