Analysing Contemporary Challenges, Pitfalls and Prospects of Intra-African Investment

Most African states have regained their independence from the colonial powers. Furthermore, Africa has made strides towards achieving sustainable economic development and relations. However, it has yet to benefit from international and intra-African investment agreements. African states are still developing, even though they all develop at different speeds. In this respect, African countries have been endeavouring to regain control of their natural resources and economic space from transnational interests. The question that begs for an answer is: What stands in Africa’s way of achieving sustainable economic development and relations? The article interrogates the challenges, pitfalls and prospects of intra-African investment concerning achieving economic freedom and sustainable relations. In the same breath, it provides suggestions on how to overcome these challenges. In this regard, the article will suggest ways to strengthen the sustainability dimension of international investment agreements, how to preserve appropriate regulatory space for host countries, how to deal with the complexity of a fragmented treaty regime characterised by overlaps and incoherence, and how to infuse the unique challenges Africa faces.