Efforts and Achievements in the AfCFTA Negotiations

The AfCFTA agreement, effective since January 2021, is being implemented in three phases covering trade in goods, services, investment, and digital trade. While 47 of 55 countries had ratified the agreement by January 2024, progress varies across specific instruments, such as the Pan African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) and the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons.

• The AfCFTA negotiations are structured into three distinct phases: Phase 1 covers trade in goods and services; Phase 2 addresses intellectual property rights, investment, and competition policy; and Phase 3 focuses on e-commerce, women, and youth in trade. A Protocol on Digital Trade, adopted in February 2024 with eight additional annexes adopted in February 2025, aims to harmonise standards for cybersecurity, data protection, and digital payments.
• The AfCFTA aims for 97% tariff liberalisation of goods by 2034. Under Phase I, member states agreed to fully liberalise 90% of tariff lines to zero rates, while 7% are designated as sensitive products with a 10% tariff rate, and 3% are entirely excluded from liberalisation.
• The Pan African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), ratified by 44 countries by January 2024, allows transactions in 42 African currencies without using third-party currencies like the US dollar or Euro. South Africa has not ratified PAPSS due to concerns over currency stability, regulatory alignment, and trade-payment risks, despite controlling over 80% of Africa's manufactured goods trade.
• Implementation of the AU Protocol of Free Movement of Persons has been slow, with only 34 countries signing and only four countries—Rwanda, Niger, Mali, and São Tomé and Príncipe—ratifying it. This slow pace is noted as a concern for the success of the AfCFTA, especially regarding trade in services.
• The Guided Trade Initiative (GTI), launched in October 2022 as a 'pilot phase', initially involved seven State Parties across five regions to test the legal, institutional, and trade policy environment of the AfCFTA.

APA

Chipanda, B., & Cilliers, J. (2026). Efforts and Achievements in the AfCFTA Negotiations. Institute for Security Studies. https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=08-afcfta&topic=08-efforts-achievements-afcfta-negotiations

Chicago

Chipanda, Blessing, and Jakkie Cilliers. Efforts and Achievements in the AfCFTA Negotiations. Institute for Security Studies, 2026. https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=08-afcfta&topic=08-efforts-achievements-afcfta-negotiations.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Chipanda |first1=Blessing |last2=Cilliers |first2=Jakkie |title=Efforts and Achievements in the AfCFTA Negotiations |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=29 March 2026 |url=https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=08-afcfta&topic=08-efforts-achievements-afcfta-negotiations |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{chipanda2026efforts, author = {Chipanda, Blessing and Cilliers, Jakkie}, title = {{Efforts and Achievements in the AfCFTA Negotiations}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2026}, month = mar, url = {https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=08-afcfta&topic=08-efforts-achievements-afcfta-negotiations}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }