Africa Gaining Encouraging Progress in Ratifying AfCFTA: AUC

Addis Ababa February 7/2019 The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Moussa Faki Mahamat, said the progress made in the ratification of the African Congenital Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has been bringing encouraging result.

“At the current pace of ratification, we can anticipate the entry into face-off the agreement in the coming weeks,” he said.

The chairperson anticipated that the six countries that have not yet signed this instrument will do in the shortest possible time and that those who have already taken this step will quickly take the ratification procedures.

According to Moussa Faki, African Congenital Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is one of the AU’s priority projects under Agenda 2063.

However he also noted, as imperative, the need to be vigilant in ensuring international commitments made by some member countries with third parties do not contradict the provision of Free Trade Area.

The attainment of the objectives of the Free Trade Area also implies the need to accelerate the ratification of the Single Air Transport Market, the Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons and the African Passport as part of the integration process, he underscored.

It is to be recalled that several African countries have ratified African Congenital Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) including Ethiopian Council of Ministers that has endorsed last Saturday.