Does Africa really exist? Or it is just an illusion?

A recent Semafor Africa article provides valuable observations on the persistent fragmentation of African markets and the cultural and regulatory barriers limiting intra-African trade and broader economic integration. Its emphasis on mindset, entrepreneurship, and grassroots initiatives is particularly insightful, reminding us that formal agreements like the African Continental Freee Trade Area (AfCFTA) cannot achieve integration if efforts rely solely on top-down directives without a complementary bottom-up process. Indeed, these dynamics were also discussed in a paper co-authored with Prof. Eric Tevoedjre, which highlights the potential of a regional value chain approach for African economic integration anchored in Regional Economic Communities (RECs), where harmonization and coordination are strongest.

However, the Semafor Africa article oversimplifies Africa’s integration challenges by underestimating structural and institutional constraints. The claim that Africa “does not exist” from a trade perspective is inaccurate. Since January 1, 2021, Africa has formally become a free trade area under the AfCFTA. We understand however that the title of the article was intentionally provocative, aimed at drawing attention to the issue of trade policy fragmentation in Africa. Africa has not a problem of trade vacuum, but a lack of centralized institutions with supranational powers capable of administering trade policies on behalf of member states. The AU lacks exclusive competence in trade, unlike the European Union, because African states have never delegated sovereign authority to this organization to negotiate binding trade treaties on their behalf. As a result, the AU’s legal personality is limited, preventing it from acting independently in areas essential for economic integration. This institutional limitation is a key factor behind the slow pace of continental integration, as the AU cannot formulate a unified trade policy across its member states in the way the EU can. The problem is further compounded by the absence of effective enforcement mechanisms, leaving compliance by member States with AU trade policies and regulations largely voluntary, which limits the organization’s ability to harmonize economic rules and advance integration.

As a result, Africa does not yet speak with a unified voice in trade negotiations, limiting its bargaining power and its ability to fully leverage the AfCFTA’s potential. While the article correctly identifies cultural, regulatory, and logistical barriers, the deeper, structural impediments are institutional in nature. Moreover, reported intra-African trade levels of 14% can be misleading, as they exclude informal trade, which remains the highest globally and plays a crucial role in African commerce.

The statement that “Integration isn’t a policy, it’s a choice” is also somewhat misleading. Policy is, by definition, the process of translating decisions, plans, or principles (i.e. choices) into actionable institutional frameworks to achieve specific objectives. The problem is that choices alone are insufficient unless embedded in laws, regulations, enforcement mechanisms, and funding priorities. Even if African leaders “choose” integration, without harmonized customs procedures, dispute resolution mechanisms, and empowered continental trade institutions, those choices cannot materialize into tangible outcomes. In other words, integration is both a choice and a policy process, with the latter essential for operationalizing intentions and achieving measurable progress.

While entrepreneurial initiative and a mindset of continental collaboration are crucial, they must be paired with institutional innovation, policy translation, and enforcement mechanisms. Achieving meaningful African unity in trade requires centralized structures capable of harmonizing policies, enforcing rules, and representing Africa collectively on the global stage. Recognizing both behavioral and institutional dimensions provides a fuller explanation for why Africa has yet to fully realize its integration potential.