Exploring the Use of Artificial Intelligence to Increase Intra-African Trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to boost intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA). AI technologies can facilitate the economic integration envisioned by the AfCFTA, thereby contributing to the rapid advancements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and the African Union Agenda 2063. This article explores how effective AI adaptation can transform and recalibrate trade under the AfCFTA. It argues that AI can enhance trade facilitation, optimise supply chains, and improve efficiency in logistics, border, and customs operations across Africa. The article notes that the AfCFTA legal framework requires adaptations to effectively integrate AI technologies. It further posits that leveraging AI to increase intra-African trade will require contracting parties to address challenges such as digital exclusion, infrastructural gaps, and regulatory bottlenecks. Finally, the article explores the implications of this AI-driven digital transformation for creating new opportunities for economic growth and innovation in Africa.