التكامل الاقتصادي والاندماج الأفريقي: منطقة التجارة الحرة القارية الأفريقية أنموذجاً

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the role of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in promoting economic integration and African integration through an examination of the theoretical and historical frameworks of African economic integration, an analysis of the stages in the development of the AfCFTA, and an assessment of its expected economic impacts and the operational challenges it faces. The AfCFTA represents a qualitative shift in the trajectory of African economic integration, as it seeks to establish a unified continental market serving more than 1.3 billion people and to increase intra-African trade by 52.3% by 2035, thereby contributing to an annual rise of 1–3% in the continent’s gross domestic product (GDP). The success of the AfCFTA depends on its capacity to address structural and institutional challenges, alongside the availability of genuine political will to foster effective partnerships among all relevant stakeholders. The study offers a set of recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of the AfCFTA, most notably strengthening integration in regional value chains, developing supportive infrastructure, building institutional capacities, implementing support programs for least developed countries, and devising innovative financing mechanisms for regional projects.