NAIROBI, Kenya- President William Ruto has called for urgent implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, warning that Africa risks delaying transformative economic gains if the agreement remains stuck at the negotiation stage.
Speaking in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he chaired the inaugural Committee Meeting of Heads of State and Government on AfCFTA implementation, Ruto emphasized that disciplined execution — not declarations — will determine success.
Unlocking a $3 Trillion Opportunity
Ruto said full AfCFTA implementation could accelerate industrialisation, deepen value addition, and drive broad-based growth across the continent.
Projections indicate the trade pact could increase intra-African trade by up to $3 trillion and raise Africa’s cumulative GDP by about $1.4 trillion between 2021 and 2045.
But the President cautioned that such gains will only materialise through sustained political leadership and coordinated execution.
“The establishment of this committee reflects our shared acknowledgement that successful implementation requires sustained high-level political leadership, strategic direction, and regular accountability,” he said.
The meeting was attended by President Évariste Ndayishimiye, President Duma Boko, and AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene, among others.
Ruto will chair the committee, with President Boko serving as deputy.
Private Sector at the Centre
Beyond state coordination, Ruto stressed that Africa’s private sector must anchor AfCFTA implementation.
He pledged to work closely with Heads of State, the AfCFTA Secretariat, Regional Economic Communities, and industry players to translate policy into tangible economic opportunity.
“Africa’s private sector already accounts for the majority of production, investment, credit uptake, and employment across our economies. Its full participation is therefore indispensable,” he said.
The committee will prioritize engagement with investors, manufacturers, innovators, traders, and entrepreneurs — the drivers of production and job creation under the AfCFTA framework.
MSMEs and Youth Inclusion Critical
Ruto also underscored the need to empower micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which employ large numbers of women and young people across Africa.
He said AfCFTA instruments and national policies must make cross-border trade easier — not more complicated — for small businesses.
“Our approach should be guided by urgency, practicality, coordination, and outcomes,” he said. “With focused execution, Africa can strengthen its position as a competitive and resilient economic bloc.”
The Bigger Picture
The AfCFTA remains one of Africa’s most ambitious economic integration projects.
The question now is whether implementation will match ambition — and whether the projected trillions in trade and GDP growth will translate into jobs, industrial expansion, and real income gains for Africa’s 1.4 billion people.
Execution, as Ruto framed it, is everything.
