Implementing the AfCFTA Agreement

A Case for the Harmonization of Data Protection Law in Africa

Bibliographic Data

ID16766970
AuthorsEmmanuel Salami (0009-0002-0230-9506, University of Lapland, corresponding author)
Year2022
Volume66
Issue2
Pages281-291
Publication date2022-06-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of African Law (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0221-8553 • E-ISSN: 1464-3731
PublisherCambridge University Press (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1017/s0021855322000110
OpenAlexW4229076157
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited2

The Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AEAfCFTA) is a revolutionary treaty of the African Union (AU) which creates an African single market to guarantee the free movement of persons, capital, goods and services. The AEAfCFTA is geared towards enabling seamless trade among African countries. The single market relies heavily on the processing of the personal data of persons resident within and outside the AU, thereby necessitating an effective data protection regime. However, the data protection regime across Africa is fragmented, with each country either having a distinct data protection framework or none at all. This lack of a uniform continental framework threatens to clog the wheels of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), because by demanding compliance with the various data protection laws across Africa, free trade will be inhibited, the very problem the AEAfCFTA seeks to remediate. These concerns are considered and applicable solutions are proposed to ensure the successful implementation of the AfCFTA

Business · Data Protection Act 1998 · Economics · Free movement · Free trade · Free trade agreement · Geography · Harmonization · International economics · International free trade agreement · International trade · Political science · Treaty · Law · Law, logistics, and international trade

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