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African Continental Free Trade Agreement Digital Protocol Readiness Index

The purpose of this report is to assess the readiness of African countries to implement the Digital

Protocol, assuming many of its provisions reflect provisions adopted by other major digital trade and

economy agreements. The data is aimed to serve as a gap analysis and highlight countries and specific

policy areas where African countries may require capacity-building to implement the Protocol. The

approach here can also be used as a monitoring framework for the Digital Protocol’s implementation,

once the annexes are agreed upon. 

Modern Architecture

Background

In February 2020, during the 33rd Ordinary Session of the African Union, it was decided that the Phase III negotiations of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) would prioritize the AfCFTA Protocol on Ecommerce, now known as the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol or simply the 'Digital Protocol.' African Heads of State approved the Protocol in January 2024, and negotiations are ongoing regarding the eight annexes planned for the Protocol.

Main Findings

  • While progress has been made in areas like electronic transaction frameworks, data privacy, and the adoption of digital trade facilitation measures, gaps remain in cybersecurity capabilities, cross-border data transfer regulations, and digital skills development.

  • Countries such as Rwanda, Kenya, and Tunisia are emerging as leaders in their readiness to adopt the Protocol’s potential provisions. In contrast, others, particularly in Central and Southern Africa, have still work ahead.

  • As we advance, African stakeholders can pioneer robust monitoring mechanisms to assess countries’ implementation of the Digital Protocol.

  • In addition, the mapping accomplished here could be expanded to the many other parts of the AfCFTA that also affect digital trade, such as digital services, investment, and market access.

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