The Assessment of Igad’s Contribution to the Realization of African Continental Free Trade Area Afcfta
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Date
2026-02-01
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Addis Abeba University
Abstract
This study assessedIGAD’s Contribution to the realization of the AfCFTA and employed a qualitative approach based on key informant interviews using semi-structured questionnaires and document analysis. IGAD participated in the AfCFTA negotiations as an observer, but as a member of the AU Technical Task Force, it contributed for the establishment of the AfCFTA by drafting key documents and providing technical, logistical, and coordination support to its member states.Since then, IGAD has made efforts to support the ongoing AfCFTA implementation in the region. Nonetheless, its overall contribution remains limited due to challenges like inconsistent payment of assessed contributions and the accumulation of arrears by member states, weak trade integration arrangement in IGAD,mistrust and limited private sector engagement in the region andoverlapping REC membership of its member states. IGAD has an Economic Cooperation and Regional Integration Division, as well as initiatives and legal mandates and institutional frameworks for trade integration. However,four of Africa’s seven non-party states to the AfCFTA and five of nine non-members of the WTO are in the IGAD region. as a result, IGAD is the lowest performer in the trade integration dimension among all AU-recognized RECs.This study recommends IGAD to leverage AfCFTA momentum to establish a regional FTA, provide the IGAD Secretariat with a funded mandate to coordinate trade policy, and ensure all member states join the AfCFTA framework, member states must either fully fund IGAD's initiatives or pursue complementarity with advanced RECs preferably EAC and finally IGAD should narrow its areas of cooperation to a few core priorities. Otherwise, IGAD risks lagging in AfCFTA implementation and missing opportunities of continental trade integration.
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AfCFTA, IGAD, Trade Integration, Challenge, Overlapping Membership