Free trade and mobility in Africa: what is at stake?

The policy brief argues that while free trade and the free movement of people are complementary and essential for Africa's development, there is a significant gap in political will, with states prioritizing the AfCFTA over the Freedom of Movement Protocol. It highlights the economic benefits of migration, such as 'nostalgic trade,' and the importance of informal cross-border trade. The document identifies barriers to free movement—including security fears and sovereignty concerns—and recommends implementing digital ID systems and common labour standards to bridge the gap.

• There is a significant gap in political will between the implementation of free trade and the free movement of people in Africa. While the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has seen high levels of engagement, the Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons has been ratified and implemented much more slowly.
• Migration and trade are mutually reinforcing; migration can drive socio-economic development in both origin and destination countries through 'nostalgic trade'—the trade of goods and services specific to a migrant's home country—and by providing host countries with necessary skilled and unskilled labour.
• Informal cross-border trade (ICBT) is a critical but under-researched component of African commerce, particularly for fragile and conflict-affected states. UNECA estimates that ICBT represents between 7% and 16% of all formal intra-African trade flows, and can range from 30% to 72% of formal trade between neighbouring countries.
• The AfCFTA is projected to significantly increase intra-African trade. UNECA simulations suggest that tariff reductions on goods could lead to a 3% increase in exports, raising the value of intra-African trade by US$50 billion to US$70 billion (15% to 25%) by 2040 compared to the status quo.
• African states are reluctant to adopt the Free Movement Protocol due to four primary concerns: fear of mass migration from less developed to middle-income countries; concerns over state sovereignty, undocumented migrants, and insecurity; a post-COVID-19 tendency to prioritise citizens over migrants; and a lack of robust protective infrastructure to mitigate risks like terrorism and human trafficking.
• To facilitate the Free Movement Protocol and AfCFTA, the document recommends the development of a continent-wide digital identification system. Such a system would address security concerns, allow states to trace mobility, and serve as a prerequisite for implementing the protocol.

APA

Monyani, M., & Maunganidze, O. A. (2022). Free trade and mobility in Africa: what is at stake? Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/policy-brief-176v2.pdf

Chicago

Monyani, Margaret, and Ottilia Anna Maunganidze. Free trade and mobility in Africa: what is at stake? Institute for Security Studies, 2022. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/policy-brief-176v2.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Monyani |first1=Margaret |last2=Maunganidze |first2=Ottilia Anna |title=Free trade and mobility in Africa: what is at stake? |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=2022 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/policy-brief-176v2.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{monyani2022free, author = {Monyani, Margaret and Maunganidze, Ottilia Anna}, title = {{Free trade and mobility in Africa: what is at stake?}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2022}, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/policy-brief-176v2.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }