COMESA adopts new five-year strategy, AfCFTA implementation framework

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has adopted the COMESA Medium-Term Strategic Plan (MTSP) 2026–2030 and a Strategy for the Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), in a move that reinforces the bloc’s evolving role in Africa’s broader economic integration agenda.

The resolutions were made during the ninth Extraordinary Meeting of the COMESA Council of Ministers held on 2 April.

COMESA, a 21-member bloc that includes Egypt, Kenya, Ethiopia, Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe, represents a combined market of more than 500 million people.

In a statement following the meeting, the organisation said the MTSP 2026–2030 is anchored on five strategic pillars aimed at aligning national and regional priorities with continental trade objectives.

“The MTSP 2026–2030 provides a comprehensive framework anchored on five strategic pillars: consolidation of the regional market; infrastructure and connectivity; productive integration; gender, youth and social affairs; and an effective and efficient Secretariat. These pillars are designed to accelerate the implementation of COMESA’s regional integration agenda.

“The Council also adopted the COMESA Strategy for the Implementation of the AfCFTA, which offers a structured approach to enabling Member States to leverage the opportunities presented by the continental market, while reinforcing COMESA’s role as a building block of the African Economic Community.”

The AfCFTA, which entered its operational phase in 2021 under the African Union, seeks to establish a single market for goods and services across Africa, with a long-term goal of enabling the free movement of capital and people.

COMESA Secretary General Ms Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe said the new strategy provides a clear roadmap for regional transformation.

“The MTSP 2026–2030 provides a clear and forward-looking framework to advance regional transformation through deeper market integration, strengthened productive capacity, improved infrastructure, and inclusive and sustainable development.

“Together with the AfCFTA Implementation Strategy, this framework will accelerate the realisation of COMESA’s regional integration objectives and reinforce its contribution to the continental agenda.”

The Council also recommended that the MTSP 2026–2030 be officially launched at the 25th Summit of COMESA Heads of State and Government.