Zororai Nkomo
Somalia has officially become the 50th State Party to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), marking a major step towards integrating the country into Africa’s expanding single market and creating new opportunities for trade, investment and industrial development.
The development was confirmed during the 26th Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Summit in Harare, Zimbabwe, where AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene welcomed Somalia’s entry into the continental trade agreement.
Somalia deposited its instrument of ratification at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on September 4, following parliamentary approval and presidential assent. The formal confirmation of its membership gives the country full rights and obligations under the agreement.
Mene said Somalia’s accession strengthened Africa’s efforts to deepen economic integration and expand trade among countries on the continent.
The agreement seeks to reduce trade barriers, facilitate the movement of goods and services, and establish a more integrated African market serving more than 1.4 billion people.
Somalia’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Gamal Mohamed Hassan, said participation in the agreement would help local enterprises reach wider markets and support the country’s broader economic development ambitions.
The government also sees the agreement as a platform for accelerating industrialisation, encouraging investment and creating opportunities for businesses across different sectors.
However, translating membership into tangible commercial benefits will require further work. Somalia must align its tariff schedules with AfCFTA commitments, establish the necessary trade instruments and prepare exporters and businesses to operate under the agreement’s rules.
These measures include implementing rules of origin, establishing systems for certifying eligible goods and addressing non-tariff barriers that can restrict cross-border trade.
Somalia’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry has indicated that it will work with the private sector to raise awareness of the agreement and help businesses, cooperatives and small and medium-sized enterprises prepare to compete in continental markets.
Somalia’s membership also strengthens its participation in regional economic integration, building on its membership of the East African Community and COMESA. These regional blocs are expected to play an important role in connecting national economies to the wider AfCFTA market.
Mene emphasised the importance of cooperation between the continental agreement and regional economic communities, describing the latter as building blocks of Africa’s integrated market.
Somalia’s accession comes as African countries continue efforts to increase intra-African trade, reduce dependence on external markets and promote economic growth through closer commercial cooperation.
While the country has secured formal membership, additional administrative and technical steps remain necessary before eligible Somali products can consistently benefit from preferential tariff treatment at African borders.
The AfCFTA is designed to create a more predictable framework for continental commerce, with the long-term objective of strengthening African production, expanding investment and supporting sustainable economic development.