African Continental Free Trade Area moves toward execution in Togo and Angola

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) entered a new implementation phase at the Biashara Afrika 2026 forum in Lomé, Togo, where officials shifted focus from treaty negotiations to practical trade facilitation. The three‑day meeting (May 18‑20) highlighted customs reforms, digital payment systems such as the Pan‑African Payment and Settlement System, and visa‑free entry for African passport holders announced by Togo. Nigeria pledged to pilot an electronic Certificate of Origin, while Cabo Verde will test an Authorised Economic Operator programme. Participants also discussed one‑stop border posts, a single‑bond guarantee and platforms like the AfCFTA e‑Tariff Book and African Trade Gateway to lower transaction costs for SMEs.

In parallel, Angola validated its National AfCFTA Strategy and Action Plan on 23 June 2026 in Luanda. Backed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and Canada, the plan targets industrial diversification, stronger regional value chains and inclusive participation of women‑led and youth‑run enterprises. The workshop outlined steps to strengthen productive capacity, coordinate implementation structures and mobilise technical and financial support. Both events signal a continent‑wide shift toward operationalizing AfCFTA, with governments, development partners and private firms committing to concrete reforms that could boost intra‑African trade and investment.