Leading Experts On Africa's Development Have Said That the Speed and Scope of the Continent's Post-COVID-19 Recovery Will Depend On the Effective Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade (AfCFTA).
Vera Songwe, the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and Albert Muchanga, the AU's Commissioner for Trade and Industry and others emphasized the role free trade in Africa could play in stimulating post-COVID-19 development across the continent, while at the same time mitigating conflict.
Ms Songwe and Mr Muchanga were among several speakers on the topic of trade and silencing the guns in Africa during this year's Africa Dialogue Series (ADS), an annual event organized by the UN's Office of the Special Adviser on Africa, to raise awareness of issues related to Africa's peace, security and development.
Mr. Muchanga and the other participants in the virtual event concurred that increased intra-African trade would foster regional integration and development, leading to peace and security.
Countries participating in a free trade area easily cooperate on security issues, he added, citing the example of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which established in 1998 a moratorium on small arms and implemented an import ban on weapons not approved by member states.
