African Union leaders have inaugurated a high-level committee to oversee the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), in a move described as a major political boost for the agreement.
Yet, years after its operational launch, questions remain over whether the continent’s most ambitious trade pact can truly deliver on its transformative promise.
Announced during the 39th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly, the new Committee of Heads of State and Government is expected to fast-track the shift from negotiation to full implementation.
It will be chaired by William Ruto and includes leaders from Ghana, Mauritius, Botswana, South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Côte d’Ivoire.
The Committee’s mandate is to provide strategic political direction, sustain momentum and ensure the AfCFTA produces measurable trade and investment gains.
But analysts note that strong declarations have often outpaced practical outcomes since the agreement entered its operational phase in 2019.
The AfCFTA, the world’s largest free trade area by number of participating countries seeks to create a single liberalised market for goods, services and investment across African Union member states.
While legal instruments have been concluded, and initiatives such as the Guided Trade Initiative launched, intra-African trade levels remain modest compared to other regions.
In his remarks, President Ruto acknowledged the urgency of moving beyond rhetoric. “Business as usual does not deliver the results we seek,” he said, urging decisive action to turn commitments into tangible benefits.
Observers argue that execution not ambition remains the real test. Persistent non-tariff barriers, limited industrial capacity, infrastructure deficits and slow customs harmonisation continue to constrain cross-border trade in many regions.
Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, welcomed the formation of the Committee, describing it as timely amid global economic uncertainty.
He maintained that AfCFTA remains Africa’s most viable pathway to expand industrial capacity, strengthen regional value chains and reduce dependence on external markets.
Still, sceptics point out that political endorsement alone may not resolve structural bottlenecks. Without stronger domestic reforms, improved logistics networks and access to trade finance, businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises may struggle to take advantage of new market openings.
The Committee’s inaugural meeting also welcomed a report from Issoufou Mahamadou, the AfCFTA Champion, whose leadership has guided the agreement’s transition from negotiation to implementation.
Leaders further underscored the need for deeper collaboration with African Development Finance Institutions, acknowledging that financing industrialisation and trade infrastructure will be central to success.
As the Committee begins its work, the key question is whether enhanced political coordination can finally unlock meaningful intra-African trade growth, or whether AfCFTA’s promise will continue to face the same structural and financing constraints that have long limited continental integration.
For businesses and citizens alike, expectations remain high. The coming years may determine whether AfCFTA becomes Africa’s economic turning point or another ambitious vision slowed by implementation gaps.
