African Continental Free Trade Area

African heads of state and governments met in Niamey, Niger on the weekend to officially launch the operational phase of the African Continental Free Trade Area. It is reported that if successful it will unite one point three billion people, and usher in a new era of development. The agreement will pave the way for free movement of goods, services, investments and people around the continent. It is hoped that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) - the largest since the creation of the World Trade Organisation will help unlock Africa’s long obstructed potential by boosting intra-regional trade, strengthening supply chains and spreading expertise.Our guests today are: • Tinashe Sithole, from the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Johannesburg • Liesl Louw-Vaudran is a senior research consultant with the Institute of Security Studies (ISS) is currently in Niamey