Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, 12 July 2025 — The African Union Commission (AUC), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), and the African Development Bank (AfDB) today launch the 11th edition of the flagship Assessing Regional Integration in Africa (ARIA XI) report during a high-level hybrid side event on the margins of the 7th AU Mid-Year Coordination Meeting in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
ARIA XI is themed: “Delivering on the African Economic Community: Towards an African Continental Customs Union and African Continental Common Market.” The report offers bold, practical, and forward-looking policy recommendations to deepen Africa’s economic integration—building on the foundation laid by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The AfCFTA represents a major transformative milestone in Africa’s integration agenda. As of March 2025, 54 countries had signed the Agreement and 48 had ratified it—demonstrating strong political will across the continent. Yet, Africa still trades more with the rest of the world than within itself. ARIA XI calls for deeper reforms to unlock the full benefits of integration.
“ARIA XI is not just another report on Africa’s integration — it is a forward-looking, intellectually grounded, and practical policy tool for deepening the continent’s integration and enhancing its competitiveness in an increasingly complex global geopolitical landscape.”
— H.E. Claver Gatete, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ECA
“The Eleventh edition of the Assessment of Regional Integration in Africa reminds us that the African Continental Free Trade Area is a monumental milestone in our journey towards the African Economic Community, as envisioned in the Abuja Treaty. To truly unlock our continent’s potential for inclusive growth and sustainable development, we must now accelerate our efforts towards an African Continental Customs Union and a Common Market—dismantling barriers and harmonizing policies for a stronger and more united Africa that represents a dynamic productive force in the global arena.”
— H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson, African Union Commission
“The Eleventh edition of the Assessment of Regional Integration in Africa is timely and provides a comprehensive analysis of the collective action required to accelerate Africa’s integration. This critical report demonstrates why we must continue to work together to unlock barriers impeding the free movement of people, capital, goods, and services, as we fully implement the African Continental Free Trade Area.”
— Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President, African Development Bank Group
ARIA XI addresses:
- The case for accelerating AfCFTA implementation as the foundation for transitioning to an African Continental Customs Union (AfCCU) and an African Continental Common Market (AfCCOM);
- The economic rationale and policy actions required for establishing a Customs Union, including harmonized tariff structures and a Common External Tariff (CET);
- The conditions for building a Common Market through the removal of non-tariff barriers and non-tariff measures, and harmonization of policies and standards to facilitate the free movement of people, goods, services, and capital;
- The institutional, governance, and resource frameworks needed to make the AfCCU and AfCCOM operational.
Launch Event Highlights
Opening remarks:
- H.E. Claver Gatete, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary, ECA
- Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President, AfDB
- H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson, AUC
High-Level Panels:
1. Unleashing Africa’s Potential through Accelerated Implementation of the AfCFTA
2. The Role of RECs in Deepening Africa’s Integration
The event is taking place in hybrid format, with in-person participation in Malabo and livestreamed access to stakeholders across the continent and beyond. A full media kit—including the report, executive summary, launch video, and social media toolkit—will be available at https://www.aria-report.org/
Since its inception in 2004, the ARIA series has served as a biennial flagship publication of the AUC, ECA, and AfDB—assessing Africa’s progress in regional integration and providing actionable, evidence-based policy guidance to decision-makers across the continent.
Media Contacts:
Janet Faith Adhiambo Ochieng | African Union Commission
Email: ochiengj@africaunion.org
Betty Baisiwa Dowuona-Hammond | African Development Bank
Email: B.DOWUONA-HAMMOND@afdb.org
Maria Dombaxi | United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
Email: maria.dombaxi@un.org