Africa’s Role in WTO Reform Crucial to Achieving Continental Goals, Experts Say

Addis Ababa, May 23, 2025 (ENA) -- Experts at the 11th African Union Commission International Law Forum have emphasized the critical importance of Africa's active engagement in the reform of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to realize the continent's economic and integration goals.

The forum under the theme “International Law, WTO Reform, and the Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” is held in Addis Ababa at the African Union headquarter.

Speaking at the forum, Professor Alain Didier Olinga, Chairperson of the Forum and member of the AU Commission's Forum on International Trade Law, stressed the need for Africa to play a leading role in shaping the global trade system.

 

“If many aspects of our development are tied to international trade law, and we fail to understand or contribute to its evolution, we risk falling short of our objectives,” Professor Olinga said. “International trade is vital to our development. Africa must be fully engaged in the ongoing WTO reform discussions and in the implementation of the AfCFTA.”

Professor Olinga further highlighted that international trade law is not merely a legal discipline, but a foundation for regional integration and collective advancement. He called for stronger legal frameworks and regional cooperation aligned with Africa’s development priorities.

Nurlegen Endris, Director of International Legal Affairs at Ethiopia’s Foreign Affaors Ministry, reaffirmed Ethiopia’s leadership in promoting African economic integration. He outlined the country’s sweeping macroeconomic reforms designed to support the AfCFTA’s implementation.

 

“The ongoing global economic and cyber rivalries among superpowers pose serious challenges to Africa’s sustainable development, security, and stability,” Nurlegen said. “This makes it imperative to harmonize policy and legal frameworks across the continent to remove barriers to the free movement of goods, services, and people.”

He noted that Ethiopia has taken significant steps in liberalizing its economy and opening previously restricted sectors to foreign investment, positioning itself as a model for regional economic integration.

Professor Hajer Gueldich, Legal Counsel of the African Union (AU), echoed the call for Africa to assert its legal and economic sovereignty in global trade governance.

 

“Economic independence, deeper continental cooperation, and enhanced intra-African trade are essential,” Gueldich said. “The AfCFTA is not just a trade agreement, it is a transformative tool with the potential to reshape the global economic order.”

Gueldich also added that Africa’s push for fair and equitable global trade reform did not begin in Geneva but in Addis Ababa. “Today, we unveil legal guidelines developed by the African Union Commission to support our shared vision and strengthen collaboration across the continent.”