What is AfCFTA?

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a trade agreement between 54 African countries. It came into force in 2021. Its core purpose is to make it cheaper and easier for African countries to trade with each other by reducing tariffs, simplifying customs processes, and removing unnecessary barriers.

Why It Matters

Intra-African trade accounts for just 18% of the continent’s total trade, compared to 69% in Europe and 59% in Asia. This isn’t because African businesses don’t want to trade with each other. It’s because the infrastructure, payment systems, logistics, compliance tools, has been missing. AfCFTA creates the policy framework. Guides like this one, and organizations like Trade Africa, exist to make that framework usable.

Which Countries Are Covered?

AfCFTA covers 54 African Union member states. For Nigerian traders, the most relevant partner markets include Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Kenya, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Cameroon.