AfCFTA Secretariat Successfully Concludes AFIRM Expert Group Meeting in Senegal

The AfCFTA Secretariat recently concluded an Expert Group Meeting in Mbour, Senegal, under the AfCFTA Implementation Review Mechanism (AFIRM). This four-day exercise focused on assessing Senegal’s adherence to its commitments under the Protocol on Trade in Goods. The AFIRM, established in June 2024 and inspired by the WTO’s Trade Policy Review Mechanism, serves as a critical monitoring and evaluation tool to track the implementation progress of State Parties. This review mechanism is vital for ensuring the effective operationalisation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, fostering compliance, and driving the continent’s economic integration agenda, particularly in liberalising trade in goods and addressing non-tariff barriers.

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) represents a monumental stride towards continental economic integration, aiming to create a single market for goods and services across Africa. Its success hinges not only on the signing and ratification of the Agreement and its associated protocols but crucially on their effective implementation by State Parties. In a significant development towards this end, the AfCFTA Secretariat recently concluded an Expert Group Meeting in Mbour, Senegal, under the auspices of the AfCFTA Implementation Review Mechanism (AFIRM).

This four-day engagement, held from June 9-12, 2026, brought together thematic experts from Senegal’s Ministry of Industry and Trade, alongside representatives from the private sector, to meticulously assess the nation’s progress in fulfilling its commitments under the AfCFTA Protocol on Trade in Goods. The meeting underscores the Secretariat's proactive approach to monitoring compliance and facilitating the practical application of the Agreement. This article will delve into the significance of the AFIRM, its role within the broader AfCFTA framework, and the implications of such review processes for legal practitioners and the continent's trade landscape.

The Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area was signed on March 21, 2018, in Kigali, Rwanda, and officially entered into force on May 30, 2019. Trading under the AfCFTA regime commenced on January 1, 2021, marking the beginning of efforts to create a single continental market for goods and services, facilitate the movement of persons, and lay the foundation for a future Continental Customs Union. The AfCFTA framework is structured around several protocols, with Phase I encompassing the Protocol on Trade in Goods, the Protocol on Trade in Services, and the Protocol on Rules and Procedures on the Settlement of Disputes.

The Protocol on Trade in Goods is fundamental to the AfCFTA's objectives, focusing on the progressive elimination of tariffs and non-tariff barriers, enhancing customs procedures, and fostering cooperation on technical barriers to trade. It also includes provisions for Rules of Origin, which are crucial for determining the economic nationality of products and ensuring that only eligible goods benefit from preferential treatment. To ensure that State Parties translate these commitments into tangible actions, the AfCFTA Secretariat, based in Accra, Ghana, plays a central role in coordinating and facilitating the implementation of the Agreement.

Recognising the challenges of implementation and the need for robust oversight, the AfCFTA Implementation Review Mechanism (AFIRM) was established in June 2024. This mechanism was developed in collaboration with the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and is designed as a monitoring, evaluation, and reporting tool. It is distinct from the AfCFTA Dispute Settlement Mechanism (DSM), which is a formal, WTO-modelled system for resolving disputes between State Parties, operationalised in April 2021. AFIRM's purpose is to periodically assess (every five years) the extent to which State Parties are meeting their AfCFTA obligations, thereby encouraging compliance and transparency.

The AFIRM Expert Group Meeting in Senegal represents a practical application of the AfCFTA's commitment to robust implementation. By conducting country-specific assessments, AFIRM aims to identify gaps, challenges, and best practices in the domestication and application of AfCFTA instruments, particularly the Protocol on Trade in Goods. This process involves a State Party submitting a Self-Assessment Report, followed by a Compliance Assessment drafted by the AfCFTA Secretariat, a structure inspired by the World Trade Organization's Trade Policy Review Mechanism.

The involvement of thematic experts from national ministries, such as Senegal's Ministry of Industry and Trade, is crucial for a granular understanding of domestic regulatory frameworks and their alignment with continental commitments. This collaborative approach helps to pinpoint specific areas where legislative reforms, institutional coordination, or capacity building may be required. For instance, the effective implementation of tariff reductions, elimination of non-tariff barriers, and application of Rules of Origin all necessitate significant adjustments to national customs codes and trade facilitation procedures.

A key aspect highlighted by the excerpt is the participation of private sector representatives. This engagement is critical, as the success of the AfCFTA ultimately depends on businesses being able to leverage the opportunities it presents. Private sector input can provide invaluable real-world insights into the practical impediments to intra-African trade, such as bureaucratic hurdles, infrastructure deficits, or inconsistent application of rules across borders. Initiatives like the proposed Private Sector Bill of Rights underscore the growing recognition of the private sector's role in shaping the AfCFTA's trajectory.

While AFIRM is designed to encourage compliance through peer review and transparency, it differs fundamentally from the Dispute Settlement Mechanism (DSM). The DSM is a formal, quasi-judicial process for resolving disputes between State Parties, offering remedies like compensation or suspension of concessions. AFIRM, conversely, is a facilitative and monitoring tool, aiming to proactively address implementation challenges before they escalate into formal disputes. Its success will depend on the willingness of State Parties to engage constructively with the findings and recommendations, rather than viewing the process as punitive.

Comparative analysis with other regional trade blocs, such as the East African Community's mechanisms for eliminating non-tariff barriers, suggests that effective compliance mechanisms require the ability to identify, verify, and resolve non-compliance through dialogue, resourcing, and, if necessary, legal enforcement. AFIRM's focus on expert-led assessment and stakeholder engagement positions it as a vital instrument for fostering a culture of compliance and continuous improvement within the AfCFTA framework.

The successful conclusion of the AFIRM Expert Group Meeting in Senegal marks a critical step in the AfCFTA’s journey towards full operationalisation and demonstrates the Secretariat's commitment to ensuring that the Agreement moves beyond aspirations to tangible economic benefits. These review mechanisms are indispensable for identifying the practical challenges faced by State Parties in implementing their commitments, particularly concerning trade in goods, and for fostering the necessary domestic legal and institutional reforms. The active participation of both government officials and the private sector in these reviews is crucial for generating actionable insights and building collective ownership of the AfCFTA agenda.

For legal practitioners, this development signals a growing emphasis on compliance and the need for robust legal audits to align national laws with AfCFTA obligations. Businesses operating across Africa should closely monitor AFIRM reports and engage with national AfCFTA implementation units to ensure their interests are represented and to leverage the evolving trade landscape. The effectiveness of AFIRM will ultimately be measured by its ability to drive consistent implementation, reduce non-tariff barriers, and create a predictable, harmonised trading environment across the continent, thereby unlocking the full potential of intra-African trade and investment.