Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 16 January – The African Union Heads of State and Government, at the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union, adopted eight annexes to the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade, marking a significant milestone in advancing Africa’s digital economy.
This decision is expected to accelerate digital inclusion for underrepresented groups, including women and youth, while empowering small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to participate and thrive in cross-border trade. The adoption of these annexes is a critical step toward creating a unified digital market across the continent, fostering innovation, and enabling businesses to unlock new growth opportunities.
The annexes address key components of Africa’s digital trade ecosystem, covering:
- Annex on Rules of Origin
- Annex on Criteria for Determining the Legitimate and Legal Public Interest Reasons for Disclosure of Source Code
- Annex on Online Safety and Security
- Annex on Cross-Border Data Transfers
- Annex on Emerging and Advanced Technologies
- Annex on Digital Identities
- Annex on Cross-Border Digital Payments
- Annex on Financial Technology
These developments will not only streamline digital transactions across State Parties but also establish a robust regulatory environment to boost investor confidence and facilitate Africa’s digital and economic transformation.
As digital trade continues to drive economic growth, the adoption of these annexes under the AfCFTA framework reaffirms Africa’s commitment to harnessing digital technologies for sustainable development and deeper trade integration.
