Can Coordinated Border Management unlock the AfCFTA’s vision of a united and prosperous Africa?
This paper examines how Coordinated Border Management (CBM) can realize the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)’s vision of a united and prosperous Africa. CBM is a strategic framework that promotes joint management practices among border agencies to streamline cross-border flows, encompassing shared risk analysis, joint patrols and controls, information exchange, and joint training and cross-training programs. CBM fosters intra-agency and inter-agency cooperation to enhance legitimate trade while safeguarding national security. The AfCFTA’s Protocol on Trade in Goods, particularly Annexes 3 and 4, explicitly embeds CBM provisions, mandating cooperation and harmonization among Customs and other border agencies. By addressing historical inefficiencies and promoting deliberate, structured collaboration, CBM can transform African borders from impediments to trade into conduits for economic growth and regional integration. The effective implementation of these provisions, however, demands sustained political will and continuous capacity building to fully unleash Africa’s trade potential and drive the continent towards a future of integrated prosperity.