BCN-27 Niger ratifies agreement on African continental free trade area

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ZCZC

BCN-27

NIGER-AU-FREE-TRADE

Niger ratifies agreement on African continental free trade area

ADDIS ABABA, June 10, 2018 (BSS/Xinhua) – Niger has deposited document
with the African Union (AU) for the country’s ratification of the agreement
that establishes the African continental free trade area (AfCFTA).

Receiving the document on Friday, the Chairperson of the AU Commission,
Moussa Faki Mahamat, urged the member states that have not yet done so to
take the necessary measures to ratify the AfCFTA, according to an AU
statement on Saturday.

Mahamat has also urged the member states to sign and ratify the protocol
on the free movement of persons, the right of residence and the right of
establishment and to join the single African air transport market (SAATM),
which he said are vital for integration of the African continent.

In March, 44 AU member states signed the AfCFTA during the AU
extraordinary summit in Kigali, Rwanda, and 31 members signed the protocol
relating to the free movement of persons, the right of residence and the
right of establishment.

A minimum of 22 ratifications are required to enable the AfCFTA to come
into force, while 15 ratifications for the protocol on free movement of
persons, right of residence and right of establishment.

So far, four countries including Ghana, Kenya, Niger, and Rwanda have
already ratified the free trade area agreement (AfCFTA).

Rwanda has also deposited its instrument of ratification of the protocol
on free movement of persons, right of residence and right of establishment.

BSS/XINHUA/HR/1440