Lomé, Togo —President of the Council of the Togolese Republic, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, on Monday called for urgent action to accelerate the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), warning that Africa can no longer afford fragmented markets in an increasingly uncertain global economy.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of Biashara Afrika 2026 in Lomé, the Togolese leader said the continent must move “from vision to results” by transforming political commitments into tangible economic outcomes.
Addressing ministers, business leaders, diplomats, and representatives of regional institutions, Gnassingbé stressed that the success of the AfCFTA would depend on practical improvements in infrastructure, logistics, trade financing, and regional value chains.
“The real test of the AfCFTA is simple: are African economic operators concretely experiencing the benefits of integration?” he said.
The Togolese leader noted that logistics costs across Africa remain among the highest globally, while non-tariff barriers and border delays continue to hinder intra-African trade. He also highlighted the financing challenges facing African small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
During the speech, Gnassingbé publicly instructed Togo’s Minister of Security to resolve reported trade-related irregularities within 48 hours after concerns were raised by delegates from Nigeria and officials from African Export-Import Bank.
The president described the AfCFTA as more than a trade agreement, calling it “an instrument of continental economic sovereignty” capable of helping Africa strengthen industrial production, secure strategic supply chains, and increase its bargaining power in the global economy.
He warned that Africa would struggle to maintain influence internationally if it remained divided into “narrow and insufficiently connected markets.”
A major focus of the address was the need to develop African-owned industries and regional value chains. Gnassingbé urged the continent to move away from exporting raw materials and importing finished products, saying the current model weakens African economies and limits job creation.
He also called for stronger African private sector participation in industrial parks and special economic zones.
“We must ensure that these parks host African companies with African capital so that profits remain in Africa,” he said.
Youth employment and women’s economic participation were also central themes of the speech. Gnassingbé said Africa’s young population represented both its greatest asset and greatest responsibility, emphasizing that the AfCFTA must create opportunities for young entrepreneurs, women-led businesses, and SMEs.
The president reaffirmed Togo’s commitment to continental integration, highlighting the country’s strategic geographic position and logistics infrastructure as assets for regional connectivity.
The Biashara Afrika forum brings together policymakers and private sector leaders to discuss trade, investment, industrialization, and regional integration under the framework of the AfCFTA.
The event is being held in Lomé under the theme: “Driving Africa’s Economic Transformation through the AfCFTA.”
