LUSAKA, (HAN) — African Union Commission Chairperson H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf has called for stronger regional cooperation to accelerate Africa’s economic integration, during the 24th Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Summit.
Youssouf reaffirmed the AU’s commitment to deepening both regional and continental integration through closer collaboration among Regional Economic Communities (RECs).
He warned that the expiration of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the imposition of new U.S. tariffs on African exports pose significant risks to Africa’s economic growth and competitiveness.
The AU chief emphasized the urgent need to fully operationalize the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to enhance intra-African trade and industrialization.
He urged member states and RECs to remove non-tariff barriers and implement technical measures that facilitate seamless trade across borders, in line with the AU’s Agenda 2063 for a prosperous and self-reliant Africa.
Youssouf concluded that COMESA, within the tripartite COMESA–EAC–SADC framework, can serve as a model for Africa’s broader integration and a key driver of the continent’s structural transformation.
