By: IRU

The success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) hinges on the seamless movement of goods. Yet, a critical gap exists in its framework: while road transport carries over 80% of Africa's goods, it is conspicuously absent from the treaty. This omission threatens to undermine the entire continental single market project.

Currently, the responsibility for transport governance falls to Regional Economic Communities (RECs), resulting in a fragmented and uneven patchwork of rules. The core challenge lies in harmonizing two distinct but often conflated concepts:

Access to the Profession: The standards an operator must meet to be recognized as a professional carrier (e.g., financial capacity, driver qualifications).

Access to the Market: The conditions under which an operator can provide services in a specific country or region (e.g., quotas, permits).

A Continent Out of Balance: Over-Regulated Markets, Under-Defined Professionals

Africa’s regulatory landscape is imbalanced. There are minimal continental standards defining what constitutes a professional road transport operator, leading to inconsistent vehicle standards, inspections, and driver certifications. Conversely, market access is heavily controlled through restrictive mechanisms like quota systems and permits, which are often undermined by informal practices and corruption.

Regional approaches vary significantly:

West and Central Africa rely on quota systems that can be distorted by informal "tour de rôle" allocation.

Eastern and Southern Africa are shifting towards a quality-based system with the recent Multilateral Cross-Border Road Transport Agreement, though implementation is slow.

The Path Forward: Harmonizing Standards for a Truly Integrated Market

The difficult journey of regional harmonization, even within blocs, shows that a continental solution is urgently needed. Without progress, the AfCFTA risks remaining a paper ambition.

A viable way forward is to focus on the missing piece: establishing clear, continental standards for access to the profession. This would level the playing field, raise service quality and safety, and build a foundation of trust for a truly integrated market.

Organizations like the Africa Transport Policy Program (SSATP) are crucial in this effort, providing the analytical work and neutral dialogue platform needed for policymakers, regional bodies, and the private sector to address this critical issue. For Africa's single market to become a reality, road transport can no longer be the missing link.