THE BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AFRICAN CONTINENTAL FREE TRADE AREA (AFCFTA) IN AN EMERGING REGIONAL ARRANGEMENT

This paper delves into the recent development in African integration and the nexus between such development of the Africa continental free trade area and the belt and road initiative. It analyses structure through which the belt and road initiative may facilitate the effective implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA). Using the library literature findings show that the belt and road initiative is a cutting edge that will provide infrastructure and investment which in turn facilitates specialization of African countries in some specific vital areas based on comparative advantage and allows for wider freedom and chances of African countries to trade among themselves and continue to be relevant in the international markets. The paper concludes that, Africa has had relations in the past and will not make a mistake of repetition of such relations that were colonially oriented and exploitative in nature. Africa and China have discovered a great opportunity of mutual trust and mutual benefits in their cooperation process and are committed to harnessing such benefits. The paper recommends massive industrial take-off and aggressive technological build-up of African continent to aid in the realization of the objectives of the ACFTA among other things.