Africa

Wamkele Mene re-appointed Secretary-General of AfCFTA

Wamkele Mene. He has been reappointed as the Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat (AfCFTA).

By Hanifa Adan | Monday, February 19, 2024

The decision, endorsed at the AU Summit, extends Mene's term for another four years.

Wamkele Mene has been reappointed as the Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat (AfCFTA).

The decision, endorsed by the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of States and Government of the African Union, extends Mene's term for another four years.

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Born in South Africa, Wamkele Mene has been at the helm of the AfCFTA since his initial election as the first Secretary General in February 2020.

Known for his distinguished academic background, Mene graduated with a BA in Law from Rhodes University and holds a Master's degree in International Studies and Diplomacy from the School of Oriental and African Studies.

Additionally, he earned an LL.M in Banking Law and Financial Regulations from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Prior to his role in the AFCFTA, Mene served as the Head of Mission to the World Trade Organisation for South Africa.

At the last session of #AUSummit, the Heads of State and Government of the @AfricanUnion unanimously expressed their confidence in H.E. @MeneWamkele, reappointing him for another four years as Secretary General of the @AfCFTA Secretariat. #AfCFTA #Africa pic.twitter.com/vuaVNrSgNl
— AfCFTA Secretariat Official (@AfCFTA) February 19, 2024

His tenure also saw him chair the Committee on International Trade in Financial Services at the WTO and as the Chief Director for Africa Economic Relations, playing a crucial role as South Africa's lead negotiator in the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.

Coordination

As the Secretary-General of AfCFTA, Mene's responsibilities include coordinating and facilitating the implementation of the agreement among African states.

He is set to actively engage with stakeholders to promote the AfCFTA and undertake trade and investment promotion activities to enhance intra-African trade.

The AfCFTA, established in 2018 by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, boasts 43 parties and an additional 11 signatories, making it the largest free trade area by the number of member states.

The overarching goals of AfCFTA are to increase socioeconomic development, reduce poverty, and make Africa more competitive in the global economy.

The agreement founding AfCFTA was brokered by the African Union and signed by 44 of its 55 member states in Kigali, Rwanda, on March 21, 2018.

The negotiations and implementation are overseen by a permanent secretariat based in Accra, Ghana.

Under the agreement, member states commit to eliminating tariffs on most goods and services over a period of five, 10, or 13 years, depending on the country's level of development or the nature of the products.