AfCFTA Ministers Shift Focus to Implementation as Nigeria Takes Over Council Chair

Ministers responsible for trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) have agreed to shift the focus of the continental trade agreement from negotiating legal frameworks to ensuring effective implementation that delivers tangible benefits for African businesses and citizens.

The decision was reached at the 18th Meeting of the AfCFTA Council of Ministers Responsible for Trade, held in Abuja, Nigeria, where the Federal Republic of Nigeria officially assumed the Chairpersonship of the Council from the Arab Republic of Egypt.

The meeting marked a significant milestone in the evolution of the AfCFTA, with ministers acknowledging that the agreement’s legal framework is now largely complete. They stressed that the next phase must prioritize practical implementation, stronger regional integration, and measurable economic outcomes across the continent.

The Council’s deliberations built on progress made during the 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government in February 2026, which adopted several annexes to the Protocol on Intellectual Property Rights. Negotiations continue on a limited number of remaining legal instruments, including an outstanding annex to the Investment Protocol and another under the Intellectual Property Rights Protocol.

Against the backdrop of growing geopolitical tensions, rising protectionism, and increasing challenges to the global multilateral trading system, ministers emphasized the need for Africa to strengthen its internal market, deepen regional value chains, and present a united front in global trade negotiations.

Opening the meeting, the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, H.E. Wamkele Mene, described the current phase as one focused on transforming legal commitments into real commercial opportunities.

“We have therefore entered a new phase of the Agreement, where the emphasis shifts from negotiating legal frameworks to accelerating implementation,” he said.

Mr. Mene noted that implementation is already gaining momentum, revealing that more than 12,000 Certificates of Origin had been issued under the AfCFTA and notified to the Secretariat by March 2026. He also highlighted a gradual increase in intra-African trade in manufactured goods and agri-food products, signalling a move away from dependence on primary commodities.

He further identified the early establishment of the AfCFTA Intellectual Property Office as a strategic priority, noting that Africa currently accounts for only about 0.5 percent of global patent registrations. He reaffirmed the Secretariat’s commitment to achieving full market liberalisation by 2030.

Outgoing Chair of the Bureau, Egypt’s Hon. Dr. Mohamed Farid Saleh, said the success of the agreement should no longer be measured by the number of legal instruments adopted but by the economic transformation they generate.

“The success of the Agreement can no longer be measured solely by the number of protocols adopted or legal frameworks established. Rather, it must be measured by our collective ability to translate these achievements into tangible economic realities,” he said.

Taking over the chairmanship, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Hon. Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, outlined four key priorities for her tenure: accelerating implementation, strengthening regional value chains, advancing digital trade, and improving access to finance for women-led businesses, young entrepreneurs, and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

“Let us move from ambition to execution; from commitments to measurable outcomes; and from fragmented markets to one integrated and prosperous African market,” she urged.

The Council also advanced its inclusive trade agenda by considering the Ministerial Regulation on Preferential Market Access for Women and Youth in Trade. The initiative seeks to improve market access for women-owned businesses, youth entrepreneurs, and MSMEs in line with directives from African Union leaders.

During the meeting, ministers adopted reports from the 22nd Meeting of the Committee of Senior Trade Officials, the 15th Meeting of the Dispute Settlement Body, and the 2nd Meeting of the Committee of Heads of Competition Authorities, endorsing recommendations aimed at strengthening implementation of the AfCFTA and developing the continent’s competition framework.

The Council further received updates on decisions taken during the 39th AU Assembly, including plans to negotiate a Protocol on Industrial Policy and Development and deepen Africa’s collective engagement with external trading partners.

Eight new ministers representing Egypt, Gabon, Congo, Djibouti, Malawi, Togo, the Sahrawi Republic, and Seychelles participated in the meeting.

As the meeting concluded, ministers reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that the AfCFTA delivers meaningful economic growth, industrialisation, and opportunities for businesses and citizens, signalling that the success of the continental trade agreement will ultimately be judged by its impact on the lives of Africans rather than the number of legal agreements it has produced.

story by Mark Acheampong