Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania, 13 June 2026 – The AfCFTA Secretariat has successfully concluded the East African Community (EAC) Regional Validation Meeting under the AfCFTA Implementation Review Mechanism (AFIRM), held from 8–13 June 2026 in Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania.
The meeting brought together representatives from the five EAC Partner States, government officials, technical experts, representatives of the EAC Secretariat, the AfCFTA Secretariat, private sector stakeholders and development partners to review and validate the findings of the AfCFTA implementation assessment studies conducted in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania.
Over the six-day engagement, participants reviewed draft assessment findings, implementation scores and recommendations contained in the five national reports and the EAC Regional Synthesis Report. The discussions focused on strengthening the accuracy, consistency and evidence base of the assessments while identifying regional and national priorities for advancing the implementation of AfCFTA commitments.
The validation meeting marks a significant milestone in the implementation of the AfCFTA Implementation Review Mechanism. As the first Regional Economic Community to undertake a coordinated regional cluster of implementation assessments, the East African Community is contributing to evidence-based monitoring of AfCFTA implementation, promoting peer learning among State Parties and supporting informed policy reforms aimed at deepening regional integration and intra-African trade.
The EAC assessment process began with engagements involving the EAC Secretariat and subsequent consultations in Kenya, the United Republic of Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi to agree on the terms of reference and assessment parameters. This was followed by national implementation assessment studies and Expert Group Meetings across the five Partner States.
The successful conclusion of the Regional Validation Meeting reflects the continued commitment of the EAC Partner States, the EAC Secretariat and the AfCFTA Secretariat to strengthening implementation of the AfCFTA and ensuring that the benefits of Africa’s single market are realised across the region.
