Forty-four African countries have signed up to a historic trade agreement aimed at paving the way for a liberalized market for goods and services across the continent.<\/p>\n
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), an agreement cast in the mold of the European Union\u2019s version was signed during the 10th Ordinary Session of African Union Heads of State summit held in the Rwandan capital, Kigali.<\/p>\n
The AfCFTA gives birth to the world\u2019s largest free trade area since the World Trade Organization which was formed in 1995. A total of nineteen presidents were present whiles a number of Prime Ministers and government representatives also signed for their respective countries.<\/p>\n
Final tally:<\/p>\n
1. #AfCFTA : 44 countries<\/p>\n
2. Kigali Declaration: 43 countries<\/p>\n
3. Protocol on Free Movement of People: 27 countries#AfCFTA2018<\/p>\n
In remarks on Tuesday during deliberations, host and current African Union (A.U.) president, Paul Kagame said: \u201cThis agreement is about trade in goods and services. These are the kinds of complex products that drive high income economies.\u201d<\/p>\n
Under the theme: \u201cCreating One African Market,\u201d the initiative falls under the Agenda 2063 of the A.U. According to estimates, if all 55 members states of the AU ratify it, the agreement will bring together 1.2 billion people with a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of more than 2 trillion US Dollars.<\/p>\n
Countries and Signatories that have signed the #AfCFTA in Kigali<\/em><\/p>\n 1.Niger \u2013 President Mahamadou Issoufou<\/em> 45. Zambia* \u2013 Joe Malanji, Minister of Foreign Affairs The failure to attend by Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari who leads Africa\u2019s largest economy and Uganda\u2019s Yoweri Museveni had analysts worried. Ugandan Foreign Affairs minister attended and signed. Nigeria did not sign.<\/p>\n Analysts say Buhari may have caved under pressure from local labour unions and big corporations who have opposed the treaty saying it would harm the local economy in Nigeria<\/p>\n \u201cIf Nigeria does not join, it will have an impact definitely. Nigeria is 190 million population country, it\u2019s a large economy. So we hope that Nigeria will not pull out of it.<\/p>\n \u201cNigeria had already been part of the process of building it, we think it\u2019s just maybe one step back that they are taking to review,\u201d Alpha Sy, an analyst said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Forty-four African countries have signed up to a historic trade agreement aimed at paving the way for a liberalized market for goods and services across the continent. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), an agreement cast in the mold of the European Union\u2019s version was signed during the 10th Ordinary Session of African Union […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":9233,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","tags":[],"news-category":[323,322],"yoast_head":"\n
\n2.Rwanda \u2013 President Paul Kagame <\/em>
\n3.Tchad \u2013 President Idriss D\u00e9by<\/em>
\n4.Angola \u2013 President Jo\u00e3o Louren\u00e7o<\/em>
\n5.Central African Republic \u2013 President Faustin-Archange Touad\u00e9ra<\/em>
\n6. Comoros \u2013 President Azali Assoumani<\/em>
\n7. The Republic of Congo \u2013 President Denis Sassou Nguesso<\/em>
\n8. Djibouti \u2013 President Isma\u00efl Omar Guelleh<\/em>
\n9. Ghana \u2013 President Nana Akufo-Addo<\/em>
\n10. Gambia \u2013 President Adama Barrow<\/em>
\n11. Gabon \u2013 President Ali Bongo Ondimba<\/em>
\n12. Kenya \u2013 President Uhuru Kenyatta <\/em>
\n13. Mozambique – Filipe Nyusi<\/em>
\n14. Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic \u2013 President Mohamed Abdelaziz<\/em>
\n15. Senegal – Prresident Macky Sall<\/em>
\n16. South Africa \u2013 President Cyril Ramaphosa<\/em>
\n17. Sudan \u2013 President Omar al-Bashir<\/em>
\n18. Mauritania \u2013 President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz<\/em>
\n19.Zimbabwe \u2013 President Emmerson Mnangagwa<\/em>
\n20. Cote D’ivoire \u2013 Vice President Daniel Kablan Duncan<\/em>
\n21.Seychelles \u2013Vincent Meriton – Vice President<\/em>
\n22. Algeria \u2013Ahmed Ouyahia – Prime Minister<\/em>
\n23.Equatorial Guinea \u2013 Francisco Pascual Obama Asue – Prime Minister <\/em>
\n24.Lesotho \u2013 Tom Thabane – Prime Minister <\/em>
\n25. Morocco \u2013 Saadeddine Othmani – Prime Minister<\/em>
\n26. Swaziland – Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini, Prime Minister <\/em>
\n27. Tanzania \u2013 Kassim Majaliwa, Prime Minister <\/em>
\n28.Tunisia – Youssef Chahed, Prime Minister<\/em>
\n29.Benin – Aur\u00e9lien Agb\u00e9nonci, Minister for Foreign Affairs <\/em>
\n30. Burkina Faso – Alpha Barry, Minister for Foreign Affairs<\/em>
\n31. Democratic Republic of Congo – L\u00e9onard Okitundu, Minister for Foreign Affairs <\/em>
\n32. Guinea – Mamadi Tour\u00e9, Foreign Affairs Minister <\/em>
\n33. Liberia – Gbehzohngar Findley, Foreign Affairs Minister <\/em>
\n34.Mali \u2013 Minister for Foreign Affairs <\/em>
\n35. Somalia \u2013 Minister for Foreign Affairs<\/em>
\n36. South Sudan \u2013 Minister for Foreign Affairs <\/em>
\n37. Uganda \u2013 Sam Kutesa, Minister for Foreign Affairs <\/em>
\n38. S\u00e3o Tom\u00e9 and Pr\u00edncipe \u2013 Cabinet Minister <\/em>
\n39. Togo \u2013 Minister for Cooperation and Integration <\/em>
\n40. Malawi \u2013 Emmanuel Fabiano, Foreign Affairs Minister<\/em>
\n41. Cameroon \u2013 Finance Minister <\/em>
\n42.Cape Verde \u2013Tourism, Industry and Energy Minister <\/em>
\n43. Libya \u2013 Mohamed Taha Siala, Minister of Foreign Affairs <\/em>
\n44. Madagascar \u2013 Henry Rabary Njaka, Minister of Foreign Affairs <\/em><\/p>\n
\n46. Egypt* \u2013 Tarek Kabil, Trade & Industry Minister
\n47. Mauritius*\u2013 Vishnu Lutchmeenaraidoo, Foreign Affairs Minister
\n48. Ethiopia* \u2013 Bekele Bulado, Trade Trade
\n49. Namibia* \u2013 Minister of Industrialization
\n50. Botswana* \u2013 Minister for Trade<\/p>\n