Africa’s largest trade initiative is increasingly linking its success to technology. At GITEX Africa Morocco 2026 in Marrakech, AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene emphasised a central argument: the future of African trade depends on effectively harnessing digital tools. He stated that only technology can move Africa beyond policy declarations to practical trade integration, highlighting the AfCFTA’s Digital Trade Protocol as critical to this transformation.
Intra-African trade remains low, not just due to tariffs but also to payment hurdles, logistical issues, inconsistent regulations, weak digital infrastructure, and barriers to small businesses. The AfCFTA’s digital agenda directly targets these obstacles by establishing a unified system for e-commerce, digital transactions, and cross-border trade.
Mene’s message: Africa can develop a digital trade architecture suited to its markets, rather than adopting outside models. This move puts technology at the centre of economic sovereignty discussions, not just innovation.
Morocco’s Minister for Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, reiterated this view at the event’s opening. She called technology a practical tool for development and shared progress, not simply prestige. This aligns with how more African governments discuss digital infrastructure: as vital to competitiveness, services, and participation.
This year’s GITEX Africa brings over 1,400 exhibitors and participants from 130+ countries, confirming its emergence as a primary platform for Africa’s tech, startup, and policy ecosystem. The question remains: can Africa turn digital ambition into commercial reality?
Africa’s digital trade talk now shifts from apps and startups to market access. The central question: Can a business in one African country receive payments, move goods, and reach customers in another without obstacles? Digital infrastructure, interoperable payments, and shared rules are crucial. This aligns with the Digital Trade Protocol’s objectives and recent policy analysis.
Africa has a policy framework that recognises digital trade as key to its economic future. The challenge is now implementation. If governments and businesses execute on this, digital systems can help bridge Africa’s trade ambitions with business realities.
