MEDIA AVISORY
ASSEMBLY OF THE UNION THIRTEENTH (13th) EXTRA ORDINARY SESSION ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENTAL FREE TRADE AREA (AfCFTA)

WHAT: 13TH Extraordinary Session of the African Union Heads of State and Government on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

WHEN: Saturday 5 December 2020

WHERE: Virtual platform on Zoom

WHO: Organised by the African Union (AU) under the auspices of the Chairmanship of South Africa

The opening ceremony will feature the following:
- The AU Anthem;
- Statement by the Chairperson of African Union, H.E. Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, President of Republic of South Africa ;
- Statement by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mr Moussa Faki Mahamat and
- Statement by the Secretary General of AfCFTA, H.E Mr Wamkele Mene
WHY:

The summit is expected to deliberate on the following issues: Adoption of the report of the leader and champion of the AfCFA H.E Issoufou Mahamadou, President of the Republic of Niger; Pledges of support from strategic partners; Adoption of the decision on the start of trading under the African Continental Free Trade Area and the adoption of the Johannesburg Declaration on the start of trading under the African Continental Free Trade Area

One high moment during the summit will be the handover of the instruments for the start of trading, by the Chairperson of the Gommission of the African Union Commission (AUC) H.E Moussa Faki Mahamat, to the member states and to the Secretary General of AfCFTA H.E Mr. Wamkele Mene

It should be noted that the AfCFTA aims to create an African market of 1.27 billion consumers with a cumulative GDP of around 2.3 to 3.4 trillion US dollars.

The Agreement establishing the AfCFTA was signed on March 21, 2018 in Kigali, Rwanda. The Agreement entered into force on May 30, 2019 after the deposit of the 22nd instrument of ratification. As of date, 33 African countries have ratified the AfCFTA Legal Instrument.

Unlike conventional free trade agreements, the AfCFTA Agreement is a comprehensive agreement with a development dimension, as it covers not only trade in goods and trade in services; but also investments, intellectual property rights, competition policy and electronic commerce, among others.

Media Contact:

Esther Azaa Tankou, Head of Information Division, Tel: +251 911 3611 85 / E-mail: yamboue@africa-union.org