The African Continental Free Trade Area has always held great promise for African economic integration and the achievement of pan-Africanism. Historically, however, there have been many obstacles to African integration and pan-Africanism. While its full implementation has been delayed, the AfCFTA still holds great promise for African economic integration, and its potential should not be underestimated.
Editor’s note: This essay is available in our print issue, Pan-African Dreams. Buy the issue here.
History is far from objective, as it echoes the voices of the victors. The perception of our past changes, depending on what focal points we choose. Take Nigeria’s history, for example: depending on whether we start in the late 1800s with the invasion of one of its great empires, the 1914 amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates, or the independence from British colonialism in 1960, the narrative shifts, altering our evaluation of crucial moments.
In a similar vein, the pan-African dream of economic integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) might seem constrained when viewed from 2019. After the deposition of the 22nd instrument of ratification by the Saharawi Republic on 29 May 2019, the AfCFTA agreement came into effect. Yet, four years on, the AfCFTA is still not fully operational. Some might see this as another broken promise...
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