المجلة الجزائرية للعلوم السياسية والعلاقات الدولية
Volume 16, Numéro 1, Pages 200-218
2023-06-28

African Continental Free Trade Area: An Impetus To Grab New Opportunities And Tackle Future Challenges.

Authors : Iratni Belkacem .

Abstract

In parallel with sustained efforts to achieve political emancipation, the African countries registered a resounding success in paving the way for economic integration at a continental level through the launching of Africa’s Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in July 2019. The aim consists not only to incept a single continental market, boosting intra-African trade, bolstering industrialization, and create jobs, but also to prove that Africa is capable of turning into a global powerhouse, and enhance its posture in the world economic competition that is increasing in the light of the impact generated by the severe Covid-19 pandemics, and the sudden outburst of Ukraine- Russia war. Africa has substantial natural resources, valuable geostrategic assets, and vibrant youth potential to rise as a competitive, responsible, and resilient actor in international affairs, but at the same time, it constituted a scramble for world major powers. However, Africa ought to size the new opportunities to achieve a long-term strategy to become an influential world power, in terms of good governance, economic performance, and technological innovations. It has also to mobilize its human and material potential to better face dour challenges in the future, mainly political instability, security threats, and demographic bulge.

Keywords

Africa ; AfTCFA ; Economic Integration ; Freee Trade Zone ; RECs