Maputo, Mozambique, 23 August 2024: The 12th Meeting of the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) successfully concluded today in Maputo, Mozambique. Held over the past five days, the meeting focused on the continued operationalisation of the AfCFTA’s Dispute Settlement Mechanism to ensure a predictable, credible, and robust trade system across the continent.

Key outcomes of the meeting included the progress on the operationalisation of the Appellate Body through registered progress on the selection process of the 2 remaining members of the AB and operating documents to guide the members of the Secretariat of the AB. The meeting requested the Secretariat to proceed with the implementation of the Strategic Communication Plan and involve all DSM stakeholders in that regard, and progress was made on the development of the Dispute Settlement Portal, a key tool to enhance transparency and accessibility.

As the meeting concluded, the DSB reaffirmed its commitment to building a reliable and transparent dispute settlement system that will underpin trade relations under the AfCFTA. These outcomes mark a crucial step forward in creating a fair and predictable trade environment across Africa.