How AfCFTA Can Help Prevent Any Major Socio-Economic Conflict In Africa

The socio-economic conflict between various African countries is a problem causing instability and a lack of significant development within the continent. Poverty, arbitrary borders, corruption and inept leadership are major contributors to conflicts.

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has the potential to ensure stability by providing solutions to the causes of these conflicts. Not only will the interests of every country be met, but the AfCFTA will also directly affect individuals within all member regions by creating more employment opportunities in the industry and manufacturing sectors.

Socio-economic conflict in Africa can be prevented by consolidating the (AfCFTA) within the African Union. The Sand War, the Anglophone Crisis, and the Eritrean–Ethiopian War are examples of conflicts in Africa that broke out due to economic and political conflicts of interests between countries. The (AfCFTA) is a strategic plan that aims to facilitate trade in Africa. It stands to also assist governments in resolving issues as soon as they emerge to avoid significant conflicts. For example, Article 20 of the AfCFTA, is focused on conflict settlement. With reduced disputes and stronger bonds between countries, states will be more inclined to reduce inter-trade tariffs, reducing costs and fostering unity.

Conflicts can arise from philosophical differences in leadership. AfCFTA agrees on roles and differences between member countries, therefore, having great harmony for a common goal.

AfCFTA has only the interest of member states at heart for one Africa. Religion has a long history of fueling conflict, but it is not always because of differences in belief. The same phenomenon explains why some people enjoy the volatile mixture of faith and politics. Geopolitics is often the underlying cause for religious warfare, with those who fight for their religious ideals often carrying a desire to "spread religion." It is then worthy of note that the AfCFTA is religiously neutral and has no bias towards any faith or religious ideology..

Countries whose governments carefully implement AfCFTA would see their borders well exploited for trade, immediately diminishing insecurities caused by porous borders. Governments tend to hold dear their source of income. Therefore, businesses within boundaries generate more income, and there will be more revenue to tighten border security using the latest technologies.

Although AfCFTA will bring enormous developments in Africa, conflicts can also arise from a lack of transparency. At this moment, AfCFTA needs to ensure that it addresses concerns about corruption in detail to improve accountability amongst countries and prevent conflicts. AfCFTA needs to measure the use of innovative technologies to capture, analyze, and share data to prevent, detect, and deter corrupt behaviour. Also, AfCFTA must be open in all its processes with professional accountability.

AfCFTA will see the rise and success of a regional pact designed to facilitate trade, investment, and economic integration among countries in Africa. AfCFTA's successful implementation will not only unite African countries of different socioeconomic types but can also prevent significant conflict or war crises on the continent.

Adetola Babalola is an author of Poetry Collection, Words From Hell and writing fellow at the African Liberty