Somalia Becomes 50th Country to Ratify AfCFTA Agreement

Mogadishu, (SONNA) — The Federal Republic of Somalia has officially deposited its instrument of ratification of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement, becoming the 50th country to formally ratify the landmark continental trade pact.

The Minister of Trade and Industry of the Federal Government of Somalia, H.E. Amb. Gamal Mohamed Hassan, formally submitted the ratification instrument to the African Union during a ceremony held at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa.

The submission completes Somalia’s formal ratification process following approval of the AfCFTA Agreement by the Federal Parliament and its subsequent signing by the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

“Today, Somalia has become the 50th country to formally ratify AfCFTA. Our task now is to prepare the necessary tariff and customs procedures, support Somali businesses in meeting long-term trade requirements, and move towards exporting our first shipment under the Agreement,” Minister Gamal said.

Somalia’s accession to AfCFTA is expected to create greater opportunities for Somali businesses to access markets across Africa, attract foreign investment, expand production and exports, and participate in regional value chains, supporting the country’s broader economic development.

The Ministry of Trade and Industry will lead the implementation of the Agreement, focusing on aligning national laws and procedures with AfCFTA obligations, strengthening inter-agency coordination, and preparing Somali businesses to benefit from the opportunities created by the continental market.

To accelerate implementation, the Ministry has established the National AfCFTA Coordination Office (NCO), which will coordinate the implementation of the Agreement and facilitate cooperation among federal institutions, Federal Member States, businesses and other stakeholders.

The Federal Government of Somalia expressed appreciation to the Federal Parliament, the Office of the President, the African Union Commission, the AfCFTA Secretariat, and Somalia’s domestic and international partners for their support throughout the ratification process.