BORDERS UNDER PRESSURE: THE AFCFTA'S INFLUENCE ON AFRICA'S TRADE-SECURITY NEXUS

Regional integration and trade areas are crucial mechanisms for combating poverty and fostering economic development. The World Bank's Handbook on Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) Policies for Development (2011) highlights that no low-income country has successfully achieved sustained growth and poverty reduction without participating in global or regional trade integration. In the short term, regional trade enables countries to expand their markets for goods and services, thereby promoting economic growth. In the long term, trade integration facilitates deeper economic cooperation, which enhances growth through increased productivity, competition, and the accumulation of experience. This study examines the role of regional trade agreements in driving economic development, focusing on how such integrations contribute to poverty alleviation and sustainable growth. The analysis underscores the importance of strategic participation in regional trade initiatives as a pathway for low-income countries to achieve long-term economic progress