Addis Ababa, Ethiopia · 15 February 2026 — The 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government, held on 14-15 February 2026 in Addis Ababa, marked a pivotal moment in the continent's economic integration agenda with the inauguration of the Committee of Heads of State and Government on the Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Chaired by Kenyan President William Ruto, the committee represents a deliberate shift from the negotiation phase of the AfCFTA toward full-scale, operational implementation.
Approximately 49 of the AU's 55 member states were represented at the summit, with 40 delegations headed by heads of state or government. The assembly was held under the 2026 theme: "Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063."
The AfCFTA Implementation Committee
The newly inaugurated committee is tasked with providing strategic political leadership to maintain momentum for the trade pact and ensure that AfCFTA commitments are translated into measurable trade and investment outcomes for African citizens and businesses. Its composition reflects a cross-regional approach:
| Member State | Leader | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Kenya (Chair) | President William Ruto | East Africa |
| Ghana | Nana Akufo-Addo | West Africa |
| Mauritius | Pravind Kumar Jugnauth | Southern Africa |
| Botswana | Duma Boko | Southern Africa |
| South Africa | Cyril Ramaphosa | Southern Africa |
| DR Congo | Félix Tshisekedi | Central Africa |
| Burundi | Évariste Ndayishimiye | East Africa |
| Côte d'Ivoire | Alassane Ouattara | West Africa |
The committee's mandate includes monitoring progress across the continent's five regions and sustaining the political support necessary to overcome implementation gaps that have persisted since the AfCFTA agreement entered into force.
From Negotiation to Implementation
As of early 2026, 49 of the 54 African Union member states have ratified the AfCFTA agreement, with most having established national AfCFTA committees and coordination mechanisms to align domestic policies with continental commitments. The focus has decisively shifted toward operationalizing the agreement, with significant emphasis on:
- Removing non-tariff barriers that continue to impede cross-border trade
- Finalizing digital trade protocols to enable e-commerce and digital services across borders
- Enabling Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to participate in continental trade
- Operationalizing the Pan African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) to reduce reliance on third-party currencies
The Guided Trade Initiative (GTI), which began as a pilot project with a small number of countries, has evolved into what observers describe as an "engine room" for testing trade protocols. Participation has expanded significantly, with dozens of nations now using the framework to conduct commercially meaningful transactions and address operational bottlenecks related to customs, rules of origin, and logistics.
Persistent Implementation Challenges
Despite the progress, reports from 2025 and 2026 highlight that implementation remains uneven. The UNDP and other analytical bodies have identified several persistent challenges:
Infrastructure and Logistics: Physical infrastructure deficits continue to hamper the movement of goods across the continent. Poor road networks, inadequate rail connections, and congested ports increase transport costs, which remain among the highest in the world for many African trade corridors.
Non-Tariff Barriers: Vested interests and local practices at border regions still create bottlenecks for traders. These include arbitrary customs inspections, inconsistent application of rules of origin, and corruption at border posts. Unlike tariff barriers, which can be addressed through formal agreements, non-tariff barriers are often informal and require sustained institutional reform.
Operational Compatibility: Because the AfCFTA is a free-trade area rather than a customs union, countries maintain separate customs agencies and systems. This can lead to delays in documentation and processing, as traders must navigate different regulatory regimes at each border.
MSME Integration: Many smaller businesses still face difficulties in accessing finance, meeting international standards, and navigating complex trade requirements. The AfCFTA's potential to transform African trade will only be realized if MSMEs — which account for the majority of employment on the continent — can effectively participate.
The "Delivery Over Dialogue" Strategy
The current strategic emphasis, articulated by the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the AfCFTA Secretariat, is on "delivery over dialogue." This framing reflects frustration with the slow pace of implementation and a recognition that the negotiation phase — while important — has consumed disproportionate attention relative to the practical steps needed to make trade happen.
Key elements of this strategy include:
Prioritizing PAPSS: The Pan African Payment and Settlement System is being positioned as a critical enabler of intra-African trade. By allowing businesses to settle cross-border transactions in local currencies without converting to US dollars or euros, PAPSS could significantly reduce transaction costs and exchange rate risks for African traders.
Focusing on High-Value Sectors: Rather than attempting to liberalize all sectors simultaneously, the strategy emphasizes sectors where Africa has a competitive advantage — including agriculture, manufacturing, and fertilizer production. By concentrating on these sectors, the AfCFTA can demonstrate tangible economic benefits that build political support for broader liberalization.
Driving Industrialization: The overarching goal remains to use the AfCFTA to drive industrialization and economic transformation across the continent by 2030 and beyond. The creation of a continental market of 1.4 billion people is intended to provide the demand base necessary for African industries to achieve economies of scale.
Broader Summit Agenda
While the AfCFTA committee launch was a major economic highlight, the 39th AU Assembly also addressed critical continental priorities:
Peace and Security: The assembly discussed the ongoing conflict in Sudan and regional stability concerns, including the situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. These security challenges have direct implications for trade integration, as conflict disrupts trade routes and discourages investment.
Institutional Reform: The AU's ongoing institutional reform process, aimed at improving the organization's financial independence and operational efficiency, remained a key agenda item. The organization's reliance on external funding for a significant portion of its budget has long been a constraint on its effectiveness.
Climate Resilience: The 2026 theme on water availability and sanitation reflects growing recognition of climate change as a fundamental threat to Africa's development agenda. Water scarcity has direct implications for agricultural productivity, industrial development, and public health — all of which are interconnected with the trade and economic integration agenda.
The Road Ahead
The inauguration of the heads-of-state implementation committee represents the most significant political commitment to AfCFTA operationalization since the agreement's signing in Kigali in 2018. However, the committee's effectiveness will depend on several factors:
First, the frequency and quality of its meetings. Committees of heads of state often struggle with attendance and follow-through, as national crises routinely take priority over continental commitments. The committee will need a strong secretariat and clear deliverables to maintain momentum between summits.
Second, the willingness of member states to implement domestic reforms. The AfCFTA's success ultimately depends on individual countries aligning their national trade policies, customs procedures, and regulatory frameworks with continental commitments. This requires political courage to challenge domestic vested interests that benefit from the status quo.
Third, the mobilization of financing for trade-enabling infrastructure. The AfCFTA cannot function without adequate roads, ports, railways, and digital infrastructure. Mobilizing the estimated $130-170 billion annually needed for African infrastructure development remains a formidable challenge.
The committee's first report to the AU Assembly, expected at the 40th Ordinary Session in July 2026, will be an early indicator of whether this new mechanism can deliver where previous initiatives have fallen short.
Sources
- UCT School of Public Governance, "Trade Talks Africa: Policy, Progress and People Behind AfCFTA," Issue 8, March 2026. Available at:
- UNDP Africa, "From Negotiation to Implementation: Turning AfCFTA Opportunities into Africa's Businesses," 2026. Available at:
- ISS Africa, "African Union Summit February 2026," 2026. Available at:
- Modern Ghana, "AU Inaugurates AfCFTA Implementation Committee," February 2026. Available at:
- UNECA, "AfCFTA Benefits Will Be Across Sectors — Economic Report on Africa 2025." Available at:
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