The ceremony was led by the Prime Minister, H.E. Maria Benvinda Levi, with the Secretary General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, H.E. Wamkele Mene, serving as Guest of Honour. In his address, the Secretary General highlighted the importance of this development in boosting intra-African trade and fostering deeper regional economic integration.

The AfCFTA Secretariat commended the Government of Mozambique for its commitment to the objectives of the AfCFTA Agreement and reaffirmed its continued support to State Parties in promoting the movement of goods across the continent.

The Secretary General met separately with Hon. Basílio Muhate, Minister of Economy, and Mr. Lourenço Bulha, Governor of Sofala Province. These discussions formed part of ongoing efforts to strengthen cooperation in advancing Mozambique’s participation in the AfCFTA.

The visit underscores the collective commitment to boosting intra-African trade and deepening regional economic integration, in line with the objectives of the AfCFTA Agreement.

During the meeting, H.E. Mene expressed his appreciation for Djibouti’s strategic role as a major logistics hub in the region and acknowledged the important leadership the country can play in advancing the objectives of the AfCFTA.

H.E. Mene also briefed the President on the current status of AfCFTA implementation, noting that 49 countries have ratified the Agreement along with its protocols.

President Guelleh congratulated the Secretary-General for the progress achieved and emphasised the importance of facilitating the free movement of people across the Continent as a key component of Africa’s integration agenda.

Opening the Conference on behalf of the President, H.E. Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed, Prime Minister of the Republic of Djibouti, reaffirmed Djibouti’s commitment to supporting Africa’s economic transformation through the AfCFTA. He emphasised that Djibouti’s strategic location must serve Africa’s broader vision of prosperity, with Special Economic Zones acting as engines of opportunity and growth.

In his address, H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, underlined the strategic importance of SEZs, stating:“The AfCFTA is Africa’s response to global trade fragmentation. Special Economic Zones are not just policy instruments. They are practical tools for investment, innovation and resilience. If aligned with the AfCFTA, they can unlock unprecedented growth across the continent.”

The opening ceremony also featured remarks by H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, who highlighted Djibouti’s role as a gateway linking Africa to global markets and an example of effective integration between infrastructure, policy and trade vision.

A key highlight of the day was the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding between the AfCFTA Secretariat, the Ministry of Trade and Tourism of the Republic of Djibouti, the Djibouti Chamber of Commerce, and the Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority. The MoUs are aimed at deepening cooperation and positioning SEZs as critical drivers of intra-African trade.

The workshop was officially opened by Ms Beatrice Chaytor, Head of Trade in Services at the AfCFTA Secretariat, and Mrs Lamia Abrouk, Chief of Cabinet at the Ministry of Trade and Export Development of Tunisia. The workshop aimed to assist the Tunisian delegation in finalising a near-complete Draft Schedule of Specific Commitments for submission to the Committee on Trade in Services, and to develop a roadmap for the operationalisation of Tunisia’s commitments under the Protocol.

This engagement marks the first activity under a tailored workplan developed in response to Tunisia’s request for capacity-building support. The workshop also benefited from technical expertise provided by the World Bank. The AfCFTA Secretariat remains committed to working closely with Tunisia to enhance national understanding of the critical role of trade in services in driving competitiveness, regional integration, and sustainable development.

The Council considered key reports presented by the Secretary-General, the Committee of Senior Trade Officials, the Dispute Settlement Body, Heads of Customs, and Competition Authorities. Ministers also held deliberations on recent developments in the global trade environment, notably the imposition of unilateral tariffs by the United States, and their potential implications for African economies. The outcomes of the meeting provided strategic direction for advancing the implementation of the AfCFTA and for strengthening Africa’s collective position in global trade dynamics.

In his intervention, the Secretary General emphasised that Africa’s economic transformation is fundamentally dependent on investment in human capital. He highlighted that the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol is a key instrument in building a technology-driven economy anchored on skills, innovation, and knowledge.

He further underlined that industrialisation, the development of regional value chains, and job creation all require a skilled and mobile workforce. Human capital, he stressed, is the cornerstone for achieving sustainable and inclusive economic growth across the continent.

What does it mean to gazette or domesticate a trade commitment? It is an official announcement that enhances transparency, ensuring that businesses, organisations, and citizens are informed of new regulations coming into force. This marks a key step towards the full implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement.

For traders, this provides clarity and certainty, confirming that Nigeria will grant preferential tariff treatment to eligible goods upon importation, in line with its commitments under the AfCFTA Agreement.

During the discussion, the Secretary General underscored the strong political commitment of African nations, evidenced by the rapid ratification of the AfCFTA Agreement. He highlighted that this collective action marks a significant step towards deepening continental integration. The Secretary General also noted the substantial progress achieved to date, including the adoption of the Protocol on Digital Trade, a pivotal instrument that is poised to unlock the potential of Africa’s digital economy, expand intra-African trade, and drive sustainable economic growth across the continent.

The AfCFTA Secretariat remains committed to advancing Africa’s integration agenda through the effective implementation of the Agreement and its supporting instruments.

The meeting considered key reports and updates critical to advancing the AfCFTA’s implementation, including the first meeting of National Implementation Committee Focal Points, the development of the Agri-Trade Action Plan, and progress under the Protocol on Investment and the AfCFTA Implementation Review Mechanism (AFIRM). Delegations also deliberated on the five-year review of the AfCFTA Agreement and discussed reflections on third-country trade barriers and their implications for the continent.

The outcomes and recommendations of the meeting will be submitted to the Council of Ministers for further consideration. The Secretariat reaffirmed its commitment to driving forward Africa’s integration agenda and expressed its appreciation to the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo for hosting the meeting.