Völkerrechtliche Besonderheiten des Freihandels zwischen afrikanischen Staaten

The work begins by addressing the origins of the AfCFTA and its legal nature, followed by a presentation of the AfCFTA institutions. Particular attention is paid to the integration of the AfCFTA into the WTO system. The ’flexibility’, which is inter alia expressed through the principle of variable geometry and overlapping membership in different RECs, is illustrated in detail. Finally, the eight RECs, whose free trade areas are regarded as building blocks of the AfCFTA, as well as their sub-groups, are discussed. Lastly, the AfCFTA dispute settlement mechanism is analysed.
It is concluded that the AfCFTA is merely an additional agreement that sets out the framework conditions and joins the existing system.