Shaheed El-Hafed, June 14, 2026 (SPS) – As part of the program of activities of the National Council’s 2026 legislative session, the legislative institution on Saturday hosted a lecture on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The lecture was delivered by Mr. Omar Hamdaha, President of the National Committee for the Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, who discussed the concept of the agreement, its objectives, and its economic and developmental dimensions across the African continent.
The speaker reviewed the process through which the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic joined the AfCFTA Agreement and ratified it on April 29, 2019. He highlighted that the Sahrawi Republic was the state whose ratification completed the legal threshold required for the agreement to enter into force.
He also presented an overview of the Sahrawi Republic’s profile document, which was approved by the National Council during its 2025 legislative session. He clarified that the document serves to showcase the foundations of the Sahrawi state, highlight its economic and investment opportunities, and strengthen its presence within the African economic sphere.
The lecturer further addressed the importance of this continental agreement in promoting economic integration among African countries and opening new opportunities for trade and investment, thereby contributing to economic development and fostering cooperation among the various components of the continent.
For his part, National Secretariat member, President of the National Council, Bachir Mustapha Sayed, praised the content of the lecture and the valuable information it provided on the African Continental Free Trade Area. He stressed that the effective participation of the Sahrawi Republic in this economic space requires continued efforts to develop national production and enhance its competitiveness and marketing capabilities despite the various challenges and constraints.
The President of the National Council emphasized that building national production chains and strengthening the economic presence of the Sahrawi Republic constitute a practical expression of the Sahrawi state's position within the African sphere and represent an important pillar for supporting development and economic self-reliance.
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