Ruto urges shift from AfCFTA negotiations to full implementation
The African Continental Free Trade Area, (AfCFTA), must now move decisively from negotiation to implementation so that it delivers tangible benefits to Africa’s 1.4 billion people, President William Ruto has said. The President said that by bringing African markets together, th..
✨ Key Highlights
President William Ruto has urged a shift from negotiating to fully implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to unlock its potential for Africa's 1.4 billion people. He emphasized the need for disciplined execution and sustained political leadership to drive economic transformation and intra-African trade.
- The AfCFTA projects an increase of intra-African trade by up to $3 trillion and a rise in Africa's cumulative GDP by about $1.4 trillion between 2021 and 2045.
- President Ruto chaired the Inaugural Committee Meeting of Heads of State and Government on the Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with Secretaries General of the AfCFTA Secretariat Wamkele Mene in attendance.
- The committee will focus on fostering partnership with the private sector, including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), to drive production, trade, and job creation.
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President Ruto Pushes for African Economic Self-Reliance and Appoints New Agency Heads - February 2026
President William Ruto urged African banks to finance the local pharmaceutical industry to enhance Africa's health security and independence from imported commodities. He also pushed for a shift from negotiating to fully implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to unlock its potential for Africa's 1.4 billion people. President Ruto emphasized the need for disciplined execution and sustained political leadership to drive intra-African trade. In a separate action, the President announced a new round of appointments and reappointments to various Kenyan state agencies. These leadership changes, detailed in the Kenya Gazette notice dated February 13, 2026, aim to reinforce leadership in key regulatory bodies.
