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Policy areas / Continental free trade (AfCFTA)
DeepSouth Africa · sources last checked 27 Oct 2026

Continental free trade (AfCFTA)

What would each region, and the continent as a whole, need to change for traders and investors to use the African Continental Free Trade Area in practice?

A firm choosing where to build a plant that serves several countries weighs the tariffs, rules of origin and border procedures it will face, not only the market in the country where it builds.

What the records cannot yet show, including how much trade each blocker holds back, is gathered in one place: evidence limits.

At a glance

The date is the latest milestone each status rests on. "Consulted · Aug 2026" means a consultation was verified then; later adoption was not found.

IdeaLegalRulesDeliveryFunding
The Agreement and its ratificationsRegionalIn force · 30 May 2019Not tracked–Not tracked–Not tracked–
Tariff schedulesRegionalNot tracked–Approved · Feb 2022Partly operating · Jul 2026Not tracked–
Rules of originRegionalNot tracked–Approved · 15 Feb 2026Not tracked–Not tracked–
Continental transit guaranteeRegionalNot tracked–Approved · 2025Not tracked–Not tracked–
Protocol on InvestmentRegionalApproved · 19 Feb 2023Drafted · 2025Not tracked–Not tracked–
South Africa trading under the AfCFTASouth AfricaIn force · 31 Jan 2024Targeted · Oct 2025, Feb 2026, outcome not verifiedPartly operating · May 2025Not tracked–
PAPSS and South AfricaRegionalNot tracked–Not tracked–Partly operating · Jun 2026Not tracked–

Roadmap

HappenedTargetConstraint observed
Before 2025
2025
2026
2027 and later
South Africa
South Africa starts trading under the AfCFTA31 Jan 2024"the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition launched the implementation of the start of preferential trade by South Africa" and "SARS certified two consignments destined to Ghana and Kenya respectively"; "the actual trade commenced on the 31 January 2024 for the approved published tariff offers to and from the countries mentioned above"Letter to trade: Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement · PDF pp.1-2 of 2 · 31 Jan 2024not yet checked by a personChecked by machine match from a GitHub Actions runner, 27 Oct 2026: word for word in the text extracted from the source (docs/notes/afcfta-sources-2026-10-27.md); not yet checked by a personSouth Africa trading under the AfCFTA through the SACU tariff offer
Regional
AfCFTA Agreement enters into force30 May 2019"ENTERED INTO FORCE ON 30th MAY 2019"List of countries which have signed, ratified/acceded to the Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area · PDF p.2 of 2 (note under the table) · 30 May 2019not yet checked by a personChecked by machine match from a GitHub Actions runner, 27 Oct 2026: word for word in the text extracted from the source (docs/notes/afcfta-sources-2026-10-27.md); not yet checked by a personThe AfCFTA Agreement in force, and who has ratified it
Council of Ministers adopts the directive on provisional tariff schedulesOct 2021"In October 2021, the AfCFTA Council of Ministers (CoM) for Trade adopted the Ministerial Directive on the Provisional Application of Schedules of Tariff Concessions."Letter to trade: Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement · PDF p.1 of 2 · Oct 2021not yet checked by a personChecked by machine match from a GitHub Actions runner, 27 Oct 2026: word for word in the text extracted from the source (docs/notes/afcfta-sources-2026-10-27.md); not yet checked by a personTariff schedules that let a country trade under the AfCFTA, from adoption to gazetting
Guided Trade Initiative launched7 Oct 2022"The AfCFTA Guided Trade Initiative (GTI), launched on October 7, 2022, represents a strategic approach to initiate commercially significant trade under the AfCFTA preferences."Guided Trade Initiative · page text, first paragraph · 7 Oct 2022not yet checked by a personChecked by machine match from a GitHub Actions runner, 27 Oct 2026: word for word in the text extracted from the source (docs/notes/afcfta-sources-2026-10-27.md); not yet checked by a personTariff schedules that let a country trade under the AfCFTA, from adoption to gazetting
AU Assembly adopts the Protocol on Investment19 Feb 2023"ADOPTED BY THE 36TH ORDINARY SESSION OF THE ASSEMBLY, HELD IN ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA, ON 19 FEBRUARY 2023"Protocol to the Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area on Investment · closing line, printed p.30 / PDF p.31 of 32 · 19 Feb 2023not yet checked by a personChecked by machine match from a GitHub Actions runner, 27 Oct 2026: word for word in the text extracted from the source (docs/notes/afcfta-sources-2026-10-27.md); not yet checked by a personThe AfCFTA Protocol on Investment, adopted but not shown in force
Guided Trade Initiative concluded, after growing to 39 countries2025"The Guided Trade Initiative (GTI) expanded from 7 to 39 participating countries"; "Over 1,200 Certificates of Origin were issued, reflecting active trade in diverse products"; "Having achieved its objectives, the GTI has concluded."Progress report on the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to the Executive Council, EX.CL/1625(XLVII) · paragraphs 22 and 24, printed p.5 / PDF p.7 of 18 · 2025not yet checked by a personChecked by machine match from a GitHub Actions runner, 27 Oct 2026: word for word in the text extracted from the source (docs/notes/afcfta-sources-2026-10-27.md); not yet checked by a personTariff schedules that let a country trade under the AfCFTA, from adoption to gazetting
AU Assembly adopts the agreed rules of origin in Appendix IV15 Feb 2026under "ADOPTS", the Assembly lists "The agreed rules in Appendix IV on Rules of Origin approved by the Council of Ministers"Decisions, declarations and resolutions of the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union (14-15 February 2026) · Assembly/AU/Dec.956(XXXIX), paragraph 10, decision p.2 / PDF p.35 of 225 · 15 Feb 2026not yet checked by a personRules of origin, the last of them adopted in February 2026
26 State Parties have gazetted their tariff schedulesJul 2026"26 countries": Algeria, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Tanzania, The Gambia, Tunisia, Uganda, South Africa, South Sudan, Zambia and Sierra LeoneStatus of Tariff Offers: July 2026 · stage 04, "Gazetted PSTCs: domesticated and ready to trade" · Jul 2026paraphrase, not a quotationTariff schedules that let a country trade under the AfCFTA, from adoption to gazetting
12 State Parties have notified the Secretariat they are tradingJul 2026"State Parties that have formally notified the AfCFTA Secretariat that they are trading under AfCFTA preferences": 12 countries, namely Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Tunisia and South AfricaStatus of Tariff Offers: July 2026 · stage 05, "Notified the Secretariat of trading under the AfCFTA" · Jul 2026not yet checked by a personChecked by machine match from a GitHub Actions runner, 27 Oct 2026: word for word in the text extracted from the source (docs/notes/afcfta-sources-2026-10-27.md); not yet checked by a personTariff schedules that let a country trade under the AfCFTA, from adoption to gazetting

Selected milestones; each idea's page lists every dated item. Hover a source marker for the passage and whether a person has checked it.

Blockers

Each card keeps apart the constraint the sources report, what is expected to relieve it (and who expects it), and how much trade it holds back.

Regulatory

Of 48 State Parties with adopted tariff schedules, 22 had not gazetted them by July 2026, and 12 had told the Secretariat they were trading

The constraint

A tariff schedule adopted by the Council of Ministers has to be gazetted at home before a country can trade under it. The Secretariat's July 2026 tracker counts 48 adopted, 26 gazetted and 12 State Parties that have notified it they are trading. The 22 not yet gazetted include Angola and Zimbabwe in SADC and Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal in ECOWAS. The AU Assembly in February 2026 urged them to gazette and start trading by the end of 2026. Trade values under the Agreement were not found in the sources read. Records: Tariff schedules

Expected to relieve it

Tariff schedules, in the view of African Union Assembly. the Assembly "URGES the remaining State Parties that are yet to gazette their respective Provisional Schedule of Tariff Concessions to complete their domestic processes and finalise internal procedures to initiate trade under the rules of the Agreement Establishing the AfCFTA, by the end of 2026"Decision on the report of the first meeting of the Assembly Committee of Heads of State and Government on the implementation of the AfCFTA, Assembly/AU/Dec.975(XXXIX) · paragraph 11, PDF p.2 of 5 · target: by the end of 2026not yet checked by a personChecked by machine match from a GitHub Actions runner, 27 Oct 2026: word for word in the text extracted from the source (docs/notes/afcfta-sources-2026-10-27.md); not yet checked by a person

Trade or investment held back

Not established. What the sources leave open

See also: Joint action or dependency

RegulatorySouth Africa

South Africa trades under the AfCFTA on 90% of its tariff book; the schedule for the other 10% was due in February 2026 and was not found

The constraint

South Africa trades under the Southern African Customs Union's common offer, gazetted on 26 January 2024 with effect from 31 January, which covers Category A, 90% of the tariff book. The minister said in June 2025 that the remaining 10% (7% sensitive products and 3% excluded) would be concluded by October 2025 for adoption in February 2026. An adopted schedule for those categories was not found in the sources read. Trade with SADC partners runs under the SADC Trade Protocol either way. Records: South Africa trading under the AfCFTA

Expected to relieve it

South Africa trading under the AfCFTA, in the view of Department of Trade, Industry and Competition. the remaining 10% is expected to be concluded "for adoption by the African Union (AU) Summit in February 2026"Reply to question NW2213, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition (National Assembly) · reply to part (2), eighth paragraph · target: for adoption by the AU Summit in February 2026not yet checked by a personChecked by machine match from a GitHub Actions runner, 27 Oct 2026: word for word in the text extracted from the source (docs/notes/afcfta-sources-2026-10-27.md); not yet checked by a person

Trade or investment held back

Not established. What the sources leave open

Regulatory

The Protocol on Investment was adopted in February 2023; no source read shows it in force, and its dispute annex was still being negotiated in July 2026

The constraint

The Protocol enters into force after twenty-two ratifications, and would then require bilateral investment treaties between State Parties to end within five years. No source read gives the number of ratifications. Its annex on investment disputes was under negotiation in July 2025, with five member states asking for investor-state arbitration, and was still outstanding in July 2026 although the Assembly had set February 2026 for it. South Africa's trade minister said South Africa would ratify once the annexes are adopted, expected by 2027. Records: Protocol on Investment

Expected to relieve it

Protocol on Investment, in the view of African Union Assembly. the Assembly "STRONGLY URGES Member States to ratify the AfCFTA Protocols on Investment, Competition Policy, Intellectual Property Rights, Digital Trade, and Women and Youth in Trade by the end of 2026"Decision on the report of the first meeting of the Assembly Committee of Heads of State and Government on the implementation of the AfCFTA, Assembly/AU/Dec.975(XXXIX) · paragraph 5, PDF p.1 of 5 · target: by the end of 2026not yet checked by a personChecked by machine match from a GitHub Actions runner, 27 Oct 2026: word for word in the text extracted from the source (docs/notes/afcfta-sources-2026-10-27.md); not yet checked by a person

Trade or investment held back

Not established. What the sources leave open

Who has to act, blocker by blocker

For each blocker: the records that establish it, what is expected to relieve it and in whose view, and every institution those records name, by country. The arrow is a cited expectation; no role or order is drawn unless a record cites it.

Of 48 State Parties with adopted tariff schedules, 22 had not gazetted them by July 2026, and 12 had told the Secretariat they were trading

South Africa trades under the AfCFTA on 90% of its tariff book; the schedule for the other 10% was due in February 2026 and was not found

The Protocol on Investment was adopted in February 2023; no source read shows it in force, and its dispute annex was still being negotiated in July 2026

Ideas and their reach

Counted from the records, not judged. A low count can mean thin coverage rather than a minor idea.

IdeaCross-border linksBlockersInstitutions that act
Tariff schedules113 · 1 country
South Africa trading under the AfCFTA113 · 2 countries or bodies
PAPSS and South Africa111 · 1 country
Protocol on Investment013 · 2 countries or bodies
The Agreement and its ratifications001 · 1 country
Rules of origin002 · 1 country
Continental transit guarantee003 · 1 country

Institutions named

Institutions the area's records name. 10 cited roles on this area's reforms are shown on each reform's page, and under a blocker where that reform is expected to relieve it. The others are named without a role.

Countries covered by Continental free trade (AfCFTA)AngolaBurundiBeninBurkina FasoBotswanaCentral African RepublicCôte d'IvoireCameroonDemocratic Republic of the CongoRepublic of the CongoComorosCabo VerdeDjiboutiAlgeriaEgyptEritreaEthiopiaGabonGhanaGuineaThe GambiaGuinea-BissauEquatorial GuineaKenyaLiberiaLibyaLesothoMoroccoMadagascarMaliMozambiqueMauritaniaMauritiusMalawiNamibiaNigerNigeriaRwandaSudanSenegalSierra LeoneSomaliaSouth SudanSão Tomé and PríncipeEswatiniSeychellesChadTogoTunisiaTanzaniaUgandaSouth AfricaZambiaZimbabweWestern Sahara

Common challenges and opportunities

Connections between countries, each with the evidence it rests on and what it does not establish.

Joint action or dependency

South Africa's trade under the AfCFTA reaches only partners that have gazetted their own tariff schedules: South African law lists them, and new partners are added as they implement. In July 2026 the Secretariat listed 22 State Parties with adopted schedules not yet gazetted; on SARS's and the minister's account, trade with them under AfCFTA preferences waits on their gazetting.

What the evidence establishes

(1) SARS and the minister say trade runs only with partners that have finished their domestic legislation, and that partners are added to South African law as they do. (2) The AU Assembly expects the remaining State Parties to gazette by the end of 2026. (3) How much trade with those 22 countries waits on their gazetting: unresolved.

What this does not establish

Between: South Africa trading under the AfCFTA, Tariff schedules

The evidence (14 cited passages)
  • "South Africa gazetted the SACU Provisional Schedule of Tariff Concessions (Category A covering 90% of the tariff book) on 26 January 2024" "South Africa gazetted the SACU Provisional Schedule of Tariff Concessions (Category A covering 90% of the tariff book) on 26 January 2024"Reply to question NW2213, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition (National Assembly) · reply to part (2), second paragraph · 26 Jan 2024not yet checked by a personChecked by machine match from a GitHub Actions runner, 27 Oct 2026: word for word in the text extracted from the source (docs/notes/afcfta-sources-2026-10-27.md); not yet checked by a person
  • "Final implementation of the Schedules of Tariff Concessions will be undertaken when the remaining 10% category of the tariff books (7% sensitive products – subject to a longer period of liberalisation; and 3% excluded products) have been finalised. This is expected to be concluded by October 2025" "Final implementation of the Schedules of Tariff Concessions will be undertaken when the remaining 10% category of the tariff books (7% sensitive products – subject to a longer period of liberalisation; and 3% excluded products) have been finalised. This is expected to be concluded by October 2025"Reply to question NW2213, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition (National Assembly) · reply to part (2), eighth paragraph · target: concluded by October 2025not yet checked by a personChecked by machine match from a GitHub Actions runner, 27 Oct 2026: word for word in the text extracted from the source (docs/notes/afcfta-sources-2026-10-27.md); not yet checked by a person
  • the remaining 10% is expected to be concluded "for adoption by the African Union (AU) Summit in February 2026" the remaining 10% is expected to be concluded "for adoption by the African Union (AU) Summit in February 2026"Reply to question NW2213, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition (National Assembly) · reply to part (2), eighth paragraph · target: for adoption by the AU Summit in February 2026not yet checked by a personChecked by machine match from a GitHub Actions runner, 27 Oct 2026: word for word in the text extracted from the source (docs/notes/afcfta-sources-2026-10-27.md); not yet checked by a person
  • "of the 48 adopted offers, the following 23 countries have started implementing preferential trade"; "The new market access for South Africa and SACU is to 13 non-SADC countries"; "South Africa and SACU member states' trade with Mauritius, Seychelles, Malawi, Zambia and Tanzania will continue under the SADC Trade Protocol and preferences." "of the 48 adopted offers, the following 23 countries have started implementing preferential trade"; "The new market access for South Africa and SACU is to 13 non-SADC countries"; "South Africa and SACU member states' trade with Mauritius, Seychelles, Malawi, Zambia and Tanzania will continue under the SADC Trade Protocol and preferences."Reply to question NW2213, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition (National Assembly) · reply to part (2), fourth to sixth paragraphs · May 2025not yet checked by a personChecked by machine match from a GitHub Actions runner, 27 Oct 2026: word for word in the text extracted from the source (docs/notes/afcfta-sources-2026-10-27.md); not yet checked by a person
  • "As other countries implement their approved tariff offers, the countries will be added to the list of names in South Africa's domestic legislation with whom preferential trade under the AfCFTA can take place." "As other countries implement their approved tariff offers, the countries will be added to the list of names in South Africa's domestic legislation with whom preferential trade under the AfCFTA can take place."Reply to question NW2213, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition (National Assembly) · reply to part (2), seventh paragraphnot yet checked by a personChecked by machine match from a GitHub Actions runner, 27 Oct 2026: word for word in the text extracted from the source (docs/notes/afcfta-sources-2026-10-27.md); not yet checked by a person
  • "The Extraordinary Session of the AfCFTA Council of Ministers held on 31 May 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya, endorsed the SACU's Tariff Offer that was verified to be compliant with the modalities for tariff liberalisation with South Africa committing to operationalise the AfCFTA with effect from the 31 January 2024." "The Extraordinary Session of the AfCFTA Council of Ministers held on 31 May 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya, endorsed the SACU's Tariff Offer that was verified to be compliant with the modalities for tariff liberalisation with South Africa committing to operationalise the AfCFTA with effect from the 31 January 2024."Letter to trade: Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement · PDF p.1 of 2 · 31 May 2023not yet checked by a personChecked by machine match from a GitHub Actions runner, 27 Oct 2026: word for word in the text extracted from the source (docs/notes/afcfta-sources-2026-10-27.md); not yet checked by a person
  • "the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition launched the implementation of the start of preferential trade by South Africa" and "SARS certified two consignments destined to Ghana and Kenya respectively"; "the actual trade commenced on the 31 January 2024 for the approved published tariff offers to and from the countries mentioned above" "the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition launched the implementation of the start of preferential trade by South Africa" and "SARS certified two consignments destined to Ghana and Kenya respectively"; "the actual trade commenced on the 31 January 2024 for the approved published tariff offers to and from the countries mentioned above"Letter to trade: Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement · PDF pp.1-2 of 2 · 31 Jan 2024not yet checked by a personChecked by machine match from a GitHub Actions runner, 27 Oct 2026: word for word in the text extracted from the source (docs/notes/afcfta-sources-2026-10-27.md); not yet checked by a person
  • "The following countries have finalised the necessary domestic legislation for the implementation of their respective tariff reduction commitments and are legible to trade with South Africa under the AfCFTA: Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, and Tunisia. It should be noted that trading with the SADC countries takes place under the SADC Trade Protocol." "The following countries have finalised the necessary domestic legislation for the implementation of their respective tariff reduction commitments and are legible to trade with South Africa under the AfCFTA: Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, and Tunisia. It should be noted that trading with the SADC countries takes place under the SADC Trade Protocol."Letter to trade: Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement · PDF p.1 of 2 · 1 Feb 2024not yet checked by a personChecked by machine match from a GitHub Actions runner, 27 Oct 2026: word for word in the text extracted from the source (docs/notes/afcfta-sources-2026-10-27.md); not yet checked by a person
  • "In October 2021, the AfCFTA Council of Ministers (CoM) for Trade adopted the Ministerial Directive on the Provisional Application of Schedules of Tariff Concessions." "In October 2021, the AfCFTA Council of Ministers (CoM) for Trade adopted the Ministerial Directive on the Provisional Application of Schedules of Tariff Concessions."Letter to trade: Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement · PDF p.1 of 2 · Oct 2021not yet checked by a personChecked by machine match from a GitHub Actions runner, 27 Oct 2026: word for word in the text extracted from the source (docs/notes/afcfta-sources-2026-10-27.md); not yet checked by a person
  • "The Assembly of Heads of State and Government adopted the Ministerial Directive in February 2022." "The Assembly of Heads of State and Government adopted the Ministerial Directive in February 2022."Letter to trade: Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement · PDF p.1 of 2 · Feb 2022not yet checked by a personChecked by machine match from a GitHub Actions runner, 27 Oct 2026: word for word in the text extracted from the source (docs/notes/afcfta-sources-2026-10-27.md); not yet checked by a person
  • "Once their tariff schedules are verified and adopted, State Parties must gazette them to domesticate them in national law. Each State Party then submits a copy of the official Gazette and the gazetted tariff schedule to the AfCFTA Secretariat, which circulates them to all State Parties." "Once their tariff schedules are verified and adopted, State Parties must gazette them to domesticate them in national law. Each State Party then submits a copy of the official Gazette and the gazetted tariff schedule to the AfCFTA Secretariat, which circulates them to all State Parties."Status of Tariff Offers: July 2026 · "About these figures" ("From adoption to trade")not yet checked by a personChecked by machine match from a GitHub Actions runner, 27 Oct 2026: word for word in the text extracted from the source (docs/notes/afcfta-sources-2026-10-27.md); not yet checked by a person
  • "26 countries": Algeria, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Tanzania, The Gambia, Tunisia, Uganda, South Africa, South Sudan, Zambia and Sierra Leone "26 countries": Algeria, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Tanzania, The Gambia, Tunisia, Uganda, South Africa, South Sudan, Zambia and Sierra LeoneStatus of Tariff Offers: July 2026 · stage 04, "Gazetted PSTCs: domesticated and ready to trade" · Jul 2026paraphrase, not a quotation
  • "22 countries": Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Togo, Zimbabwe, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau "22 countries": Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Togo, Zimbabwe, Guinea and Guinea-BissauStatus of Tariff Offers: July 2026 · stage 03, "Adopted PSTCs, yet to be gazetted" · Jul 2026paraphrase, not a quotation
  • "State Parties that have formally notified the AfCFTA Secretariat that they are trading under AfCFTA preferences": 12 countries, namely Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Tunisia and South Africa "State Parties that have formally notified the AfCFTA Secretariat that they are trading under AfCFTA preferences": 12 countries, namely Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Tunisia and South AfricaStatus of Tariff Offers: July 2026 · stage 05, "Notified the Secretariat of trading under the AfCFTA" · Jul 2026not yet checked by a personChecked by machine match from a GitHub Actions runner, 27 Oct 2026: word for word in the text extracted from the source (docs/notes/afcfta-sources-2026-10-27.md); not yet checked by a person
Shared challenge

Two systems now settle payments between Southern African banks: SADC-RTGS, operated by the South African Reserve Bank, in rand and since July 2026 kwanza; and PAPSS, which lists live participants in Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe but reaches South African banks only inbound. The sources read do not say how the two relate, or whether they will be linked.

What the evidence establishes

(1) Each system's coverage is documented (the Reserve Bank's statistics and PAPSS's coverage document). (2) The Reserve Bank expects a second settlement currency to lower costs; no expectation about PAPSS in Southern Africa was read. (3) Whether either reduces the cost or time of a payment between, say, Zambia and South Africa: unresolved.

What this does not establish

Between: SADC-RTGS settlement system, PAPSS and South Africa

The evidence (5 cited passages)
  • the system "has settled transactions exclusively in South African rand since its inception in 2013"; the governors of the two central banks "today formally announced" the kwanza as a settlement currency the system "has settled transactions exclusively in South African rand since its inception in 2013"; the governors of the two central banks "today formally announced" the kwanza as a settlement currencyIntroduction of the Angolan kwanza into the SADC-RTGS system (media release) · media release text · 27 Jul 2026not yet checked by a person
  • the Reserve Bank intends to add other regional currencies, such as the Botswana pula, "in due course" the Reserve Bank intends to add other regional currencies, such as the Botswana pula, "in due course"Introduction of the Angolan kwanza into the SADC-RTGS system (media release) · media release textnot yet checked by a person
  • direct settlement in kwanza lets participants avoid foreign-exchange conversions and so lowers transaction costs, in the release's account direct settlement in kwanza lets participants avoid foreign-exchange conversions and so lowers transaction costs, in the release's accountIntroduction of the Angolan kwanza into the SADC-RTGS system (media release) · media release textparaphrase, not a quotation
  • lists live participants in Djibouti, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe; headline figures of "190+" institutions signed up and "31" African countries reachable lists live participants in Djibouti, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe; headline figures of "190+" institutions signed up and "31" African countries reachablePAPSS Payments Network Coverage, June 2026 · PDF p.3 (headline figures); live participants from the coverage pages, pp.4-5 and 7-30 · Jun 2026paraphrase, not a quotation
  • "South Africa*" is listed among countries reachable through the Extended Network (inbound only), with "22 banks reachable"; the asterisk's note reads "Requires additional integration where applicable" "South Africa*" is listed among countries reachable through the Extended Network (inbound only), with "22 banks reachable"; the asterisk's note reads "Requires additional integration where applicable"PAPSS Payments Network Coverage, June 2026 · PDF p.25 (South Africa, 22 banks reachable); PDF p.4 (the asterisk's note) · Jun 2026not yet checked by a person

Evidence limits

What the records do not establish, said once here rather than on every claim. Coverage says what was read; the lists say what it leaves open.

Coverage

Six records of the AfCFTA's own, and the PAPSS record from the payments area. Five are continental: the Agreement and who has ratified it, the tariff schedules a country needs before it can trade (with the Guided Trade Initiative that piloted them), the rules of origin, a transit guarantee scheme, and the Protocol on Investment. One is South Africa's start of trading in January 2024. Sources are the Agreement and the Protocol, the African Union's ratification list and two Assembly decisions of February 2026, the AfCFTA Secretariat's July 2026 tracker, the Secretary-General's July 2025 report and a July 2026 press release, SARS's letter to traders, two parliamentary replies of South Africa's trade minister, and tralac's FAQ where it adds a date. No figures for trade under the Agreement were found, no other country's own customs documents were read, and how each regional community's trade regime sits with the AfCFTA is covered only by the Agreement's rule (Article 19). The Protocol on Investment is recorded here; the investment rules area remains scoped.

How much trade or investment each blocker holds back

Common challenges

Open questions

  • What has been traded under AfCFTA preferences, between which countries and at what value; the sources read count only certificates of origin.
  • Why 14 State Parties with gazetted schedules, among them Botswana, Eswatini and Lesotho in SACU, have not notified the Secretariat that they are trading.
  • How many states have ratified the Protocol on Investment, and what the dispute annex will say about investor-state arbitration.
  • Whether the continental transit guarantee scheme operates on any Southern African corridor, and how it relates to SADC's and COMESA's own guarantees.
  • How the AfCFTA's rules sit alongside each regional community's own trade regime, region by region, beyond Article 19 of the Agreement.
  • Whether payments for AfCFTA trade with South Africa can run on PAPSS, which reaches South African banks inbound only.