AfCFTA Ratification and Domestication-Making Regional Integration a Reality

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) represents a landmark initiative aimed at creating a unified market across Africa, encompassing 54 of the 55 African Union member states. Since its inception, the agreement has garnered significant support, with 48 countries ratifying it by depositing their instruments of ratification with the African Union (AU) Commission as of February 2025.[1] This widespread ratification demonstrates the continent’s commitment to enhancing intra-African trade and economic integration. The AfCFTA has the potential to become the world’s largest free trade area by number of participating countries, aiming to facilitate the free movement of goods and services, boost economic growth, and reduce poverty across the continent. The agreement’s implementation reflects a collective effort to tackle historical trade barriers and promote a more interconnected and prosperous African economy. The only AU member state that has not signed the agreement is Eritrea.[2]

Understanding the lifecycle of an international agreement, in particular the steps of signing, ratification, gazetting, and domestication, and how these phases support programs like the Guided Trade Initiative (GTI), is crucial tothe implementation of the AfCFTA. Signing an agreement reflects a state’s intention to comply with the terms, but does not by itself create binding legal obligations until ratification and depositing the said ratified agreement with a designated authority has occured. Ratification is the formal consent given by the state, often through legislative approval, that confirms its commitment to be legally bound by the treaty. Gazetting refers to the publication of the treaty or its implementing measures in the official government gazette, marking the legal commencement or enforcement date domestically. Domestication is the process whereby the provisions of an international agreement are integrated into a country’s national legal system, making them enforceable by domestic courts and institutions. These processes, summarised in Table 1 below, are standard practice for the adoption and implementation of international agreements, including the AfCFTA, across different legal systems worldwide.

Table 1: The Treaty Lifecycle — Signing, Ratification, Gazetting, and Domestication

The successful launch of the Guided Trade Initiative (GTI) illustrates the practical impact of progressing through these stages. Only countries that have ratified and, in many cases, domesticated the AfCFTA provisions are eligible to participate in the GTI, which facilitates the actual flow of goods under the free trade framework, beginning with early trading nations and expanding as more members complete these essential legal and administrative steps.

State Parties and their Agreement Signing Dates

The following table lists the countries that have signed the AfCFTA agreement along with their respective signing dates:

Table 2: Countries that have Signed the AfCFTA Agreement

Table 3 contains the list of countries and their year of ratification of the AfCFTA agreement:

Table 3: Countries and their Year of Ratification

Source: Tralac (2024), Reuters (2025) & El País (2024).

The remaining African Union member states that have signed but not yet ratified the AfCFTA agreement include:​

Table 4: Countries that have Signed but not Yet Ratified the AfCFTA Agreement

Source: Tralac (2024), Reuters (2025) & El País (2024).

Countries that have Gazette and Domesticate the Agreement

Domestication of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement involves integrating its provisions into national legal frameworks, an important step for effective implementation. The process typically includes legislative approval and publication in official government gazettes. Based on available information, the following countries have initiated or completed the domestication process[3]:​

Table 5: Countries that have Gazette and domesticated the AfCFTA Agreement

Source: Africa Trade Report (2022); Ecofin Agency (2024); El País. (2024); Labour Research Service (2024); Reuters. (2025) & Tralac (2024)

Note: This list is based on available information as of April 2025. Some countries may have completed the processes but have not publicly announced their status.

​ AfCFTA Guided Trade Initiative

The AfCFTA Guided Trade Initiative (GTI) was launched in October 2022 to facilitate and operationalise trade in goods among African nations under the AfCFTA framework. Initially, eight countries commenced trading under this initiative. These countries met the minimum requirements for trade under the AfCFTA agreement and began exchanging a range of products, including batteries, tea, and coffee. ​In January 2024, South Africa joined the GTI, expanding the list of participating nations. ​Furthermore, plans were announced to include an additional 24 countries in the GTI during 2024, aiming to increase the total number of participating nations to 31. This expansion reflects the growing commitment across the continent to enhance intra-African trade through the AfCFTA framework. As of April 2025, the GTI continues to evolve, with more countries working towards meeting the necessary requirements to participate fully in the AfCFTA’s trading mechanisms.[4]

Table 4: Countries that have Commenced Trading Under GTI

Source: Tralac (2024)[5] & International Trade Administration (2024)[6]

Conclusion

​The ratification of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement by 48 African nations as of February 2025 signifies a monumental step towards economic integration across the continent. This extensive endorsement reflects a collective commitment to promoting intra-African trade, enhancing economic growth, and reducing poverty. However, the journey towards full implementation is ongoing, with several countries yet to ratify the agreement. Tackling challenges such as huge infrastructure deficits, and harmonising trade policies remain germane for the AfCFTA to realise its full potential. Continued collaboration among member states is essential to overcome these obstacles and to achieve the vision of a unified, prosperous African market

REFERENCES

Africa Trade Report. (2022, October 7). AfCFTA: From Ghana to Egypt, 8 countries set to trade under guided trade initiative. The Africa Report. Retrieved April 8, 2025, from https://www.theafricareport.com/248174/afcfta-from-ghana-to-egypt-8-countries-set-to-trade-under-guided-trade-initiative/

Ecofin Agency. (2024, January 18). African nations expand Guided Trade Initiative within the AfCFTA framework. Retrieved April 8, 2025, from https://www.ecofinagency.com/public-management/1801-45152-african-nations-expand-guided-trade-initiative-within-the-afcfta-framework

El País. (2024, December 3). La zona de libre comercio africana da sus primeros pasos. El País Economía. Retrieved April 7, 2025, from https://elpais.com/economia/negocios/2024-12-03/la-zona-de-libre-comercio-africana-da-sus-primeros-pasos.html

Labour Research Service (2024). AfCFTA update: Current status and next steps. Trade Unions and the African Continental Free Trade Area. Retrieved April 7, 2025, from https://tradeunionsinafcfta.org/afcfta-update-current-status-and-next-steps/

Reuters. (2025, January 17). Investment in Africa: Free trade area agreement powers continent’s energy future. Reuters Legal. Retrieved April 7, 2025, from https://www.reuters.com/legal/legalindustry/investment-africa-free-trade-area-agreement-powers-continents-energy-future-2025-01-17/

The East African. (2022, October 3). East African states lead in domestication of AfCFTA trade. Retrieved April 8, 2025, from https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/business/east-african-states-lead-in-domestication-of-afcfta-trade-3978194

Trade Mark Africa. (2021, March 8). Kenya begins domestication of AfCFTA policies. Retrieved April 8, 2025, from https://www.trademarkafrica.com/news/kenya-begins-domestication-of-afcfta-policies/

Trade Unions in AfCFTA. (2024, January). South Africa joins the AfCFTA Guided Trade Initiative. Retrieved April 8, 2025, from https://www.tradeunionsinafcfta.org/south-africa-joins-the-afcfta-guided-trade-initiative/

Tralac. (2024) Status of AfCFTA ratification. Trade Law Centre. Retrieved April 8, 2025, from https://www.tralac.org/resources/infographics/13795-status-of-afcfta-ratification.html

Tralac. (2024, August 13). Where does the AfCFTA stand at the beginning of 2024? tralac Blog. Retrieved April 7, 2025, from https://www.tralac.org/blog/article/16334-where-does-the-afcfta-stand-at-the-beginning-of-2024.html Tralac. (2024, May). The African Continental Free Trade Area: A tralac guide (12th ed.). tralac trade law centre. Retrieved April 7, 2025, from https://www.tralac.org/documents/resources/booklets/5480-afcfta-a-tralac-guide-12th-ed-may-2024-v2/file.html

[1] Tralac. (2024, August 13). Where does the AfCFTA stand at the beginning of 2024? tralac Blog. Retrieved April 7, 2025, from https://www.tralac.org/blog/article/16334-where-does-the-afcfta-stand-at-the-beginning-of-2024.html

[2] Labour Research Service (2024). AfCFTA update: Current status and next steps. Trade Unions and the African Continental Free Trade Area. Retrieved April 7, 2025, from https://tradeunionsinafcfta.org/afcfta-update-current-status-and-next-steps/

[3] Tralac. (2024) Status of AfCFTA ratification. Trade Law Centre. Retrieved April 8, 2025, from https://www.tralac.org/resources/infographics/13795-status-of-afcfta-ratification.html

[4] Ecofin Agency. (2024, January 18). African nations expand Guided Trade Initiative within the AfCFTA framework. Retrieved April 8, 2025, from https://www.ecofinagency.com/public-management/1801-45152-african-nations-expand-guided-trade-initiative-within-the-afcfta-framework

[5] Tralac (2024). Status of AfCFTA ratification. Trade Law Centre. https://www.tralac.org/resources/infographic/13795-status-of-afcfta-ratification.html

[6] International Trade Administration (2024, November). AfCFTA update — November 2024. U.S. Department of Commerce. https://www.trade.gov/market-intelligence/afcfta-update-november-2024

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