During a ceremony which took place on 5 February 2022 in Addis Ababa, on the sidelines of the 35th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU), Cabo Verde officially deposited its instrument of ratification. The Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, H.E. Wamkele Mene witnessed the event in the presence of the Secretary of State of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Cabo Verde, Miryan Djamila Sena Vieira, Ambassador of Cabo Verde in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Belarmino Silva and officials of the Office of the Legal Counsel of the African Union Commission (AUC).

“I wish a warm welcome to Cabo Verde to the great family of the States Parties to the AfCFTA. It is an important step that demonstrates Cabo Verde’s interest and commitment to the economic integration of the continent.” – Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat.

Since 1st January 2021, it became possible for State Parties whose customs procedures are ready, to trade under the AfCFTA preferential terms. To date, the Agreement Establishing the AfCFTA has been signed by 54 AU Member States, with the State of Eritrea being the only country yet to sign. Forty-one (41) AU Member States are now State Parties to the Agreement by virtue of them depositing the instruments of ratification, with Cabo Verde being the latest.