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By Dr. Bin Joachem Meh, Maingeh Sandrine Viesi, Dr. Jean Cedric Kouam (Download policy brief)

“This policy brief is part of the Nkafu Policy Institute’s reflections on promoting the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement in Cameroon, thanks to the financial support of the Initiative for African Trade and Prosperity (IATP), Project ID #017.”

Introduction

The African Economic Community (AEC), established by the Abuja Treaty in 1991, aims to progressively integrate Africa’s Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and achieve complete continental economic integration. Building on this commitment, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) (1), which came into force in January 2021, seeks to significantly enhance intra-African trade, promote economic integration, and support sustainable development across the continent. By creating a single market, AfCFTA has the potential to nurture economic prosperity and improve human happiness among the African population. However, implementing the AfCFTA poses a significant challenge due to the existence of multiple Regional Economic Communities (RECs), each with distinct objectives and numerous treaties and protocols governing interstate relations. These RECs often overlap, leading to confusion and hindering the AfCFTA project. Additionally, issues such as rules of origin, common external tariffs, and competition from other activities pose further barriers to successful implementation. By accomplishing these goals, the AfCFTA can significantly contribute to promoting economic growth, enhancing regional integration, and fostering sustainable development across Africa. This article aims to put forth recommendations to overcome the challenges associated with the AfCFTA in Cameroon and offer viable solutions for policymakers and other key stakeholders. In the following sections, we will provide a brief overview of the AfCFTA (Section 2), examine the challenges and opportunities that arise during its implementation (Section 3), and ultimately, present our conclusions and propose a way forward (Section 4). Our hope is that this article will serve as a valuable resource for those seeking to understand and support the successful execution of the AfCFTA.