Africa: harmonising competition policy under the AfCFTA

This article examines the process of harmonisation of competition law and policy in Africa in the context of economic integration under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). The article undertakes a comparative examination of the various stages of development of domestic competition laws and authorities across Africa. It identifies the challenge of the different and overlapping membership of the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), as well as the diversity among the regional competition policy frameworks that have developed on the African continent. The article concludes by discussing the various options and recommendations for harmonising competition policy and integrating competition law in the context of the AfCFTA under African Union law.