PICTORIAL: All the action at the signing of the CFTA

The African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (CFTA ) could enter into effect by the end of this year following signing by 44 countries on March 21, 2018 at the 10th extraordinary African Union Summit held in Kigali. Besides the agreement, which could make Africa the world’s largest free trade zone, 43 nations signed the Kigali Declaration, while 27 countries agreed to ease mobility of people across the continent by signing the protocol on movement of people across Africa. A total of nineteen presidents were present at the signing while other nations delegated top government officials such as Prime Ministers, Vice Presidents and Ministers of Foreign Affairs of their respective countries. President Paul Kagame said that the milestone is proof of what is possible when the African states work together. We bring to you some of the best moments at the signing of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement. The Chairperson of the African Union, President Paul Kagame, and Champion of the African Continental Free Trade Area, President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger, and the Chairperson of the African Union, Moussa Faki Mahamat, unveil a plaque marking the launch of CFTA at Kigali Convention Centre on Wednesday. Courtesy. African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat displays the three instruments that were signed by AU leaders in Kigali on Wednesday. Courtesy. African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat speaks at the inaugural African Union’s CFTA summit on Wednesday. Courtesy. President Kagame delivers his remarks at the 10th Extraordinary Summit of the African Union Heads of State and Government in Kigali on Wednesday. Courtesy. The plaque that was unveiled signifying the launch of the African Continental Free Trade Area at the AU summit on Wednesday. Courtesy. Presidents Kagame and Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana at the AU summit in Kigali on Wednesday. Courtesy. President Kagame chairing the 10th Extraordinary Summit of the African Union at the Kigali Convention Centre on Wednesday. Looking on are President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger (left), African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat and African Union Commission Director for Information and Communication Leslie Richer (right). President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger, who spearheaded the CFTA adoption process, was the first leader to sign the agreements in Kigali yesterday. (Courtesy) Chad President Idriss Déby Itno signs the instruments at Kigali Convention Centre yesterday. (Courtesy) President João Lourenço of Angola commits his country during the signing ceremony yesterday. (Courtesy) President Faustin-Archange Touadéra of Central African Republic signs on behalf of his country. (Courtesy) Comoros President Azali Assoumani signs the agreements in Kigali yesterday. (Courtesy) President Denis Sassou Nguesso endorses the instruments at Kigali Convention Centre yesterday. (Courtesy) The President of Djibouti Ismaïl Omar Guelleh signs the agreements in Kigali yesterday. (Village Urugwiro) President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana was among the African leaders who signed the agreements. (Courtesy) President Adama Barrow of the Gambia inks the deal in the Rwandan capital of Kigali yesterday. (Courtesy) President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon signed on behalf of his country at the historic event. (Courtesy) Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta is among the leaders who signed all of the three instruments at the AU summit in Kigali yesterday. (Courtesy) Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi was among the leaders that endorsed the deals in Kigali yesterday. (Village Urugwiro) President Brahim Ghali of Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic represented his country at the signing ceremony. (Courtesy) President Macky Sall of Senegal also committed his country as leaders took a bold step forward in efforts to create the world’s largest free trade zone. (Village Urugwiro) South African President Cyril Ramaphosa represented his country at the signing ceremony at Kigali Convention Centre yesterday. (Village Urugwiro) Sudan President Omar al-Bashir also joined his counterparts to seal the continental landmark deals. (Courtesy) Mauritania President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz signed on behalf of his country. (Courtesy) Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa signed the landmark deals in Kigali. (Courtesy) African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat delivers his remarks at the extraordinary Heads of State and Government summit in Kigali yesterday. (Courtesy) President Kagame delivers his remarks at the opening of the African Union summit in Kigali yesterday. (Courtesy) A cross-section of delegates at the summit at Kigali Convention Centre yesterday. Courtesy. A total of 44 countries signed the historic African Continental Free Trade Agreement in Kigali yesterday. (Courtesy) The African Union summit, the second of its kind to take place in Rwanda, was held at the Kigali Convention Centre in Kimihurura. (Courtesy) While up to 19 Heads of State inked the deals in person, more than 20 others delegated senior officials to sign on behalf of their respective countries. (Courtesy) President Kagame is the current Chairperson of the African Union. The Rwandan leader is also spearheading another effort to reform the Union. (Courtesy) First Lady Jeannette Kagame attended yesterday’s African Union summit in Kigali. (Courtesy) The African Continental Free Trade Area will create a market of a 1.2 billion people. (Courtesy) Niger’s President Mahamadou Issoufou, who championed the CFTA talks, delivers his remarks at the event yesterday. (Courtesy) Forty-four countries signed the African Continental Free Trade Area, 43 inked the Kigali Declaration, while 27 countries adopted the protocol on free movement of persons. (Courtesy) Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo (left) chats with Presidents Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon (right), Uhuru Kenyatta (second left) and Idriss Déby Itno (of Chad) at the summit yesterday. (Courtesy) Students from Nyundo Arts School perform at the AU summit yesterday. (Courtesy) Delegates chat during the African Union Extraordinary Summit in Kigali. (Timothy Kisambira) Journalists working at the Media center. (Timothy Kisambira) Heads of States and delegates arrive for the African Union Extra Ordinary Summit in Kigali. (Timothy Kisambira) African leaders at the 10th Extraordinary Summit of the African Union in Kigali on Wednesday. Courtesy. A staff from African Union Secretariat distributes documents to delegates. (Timothy Kisambira) Students of Nyundo Music School sing the African Union Anthem at the summit. (Timothy Kisambira) Gabon President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon and other dignitaries at the AU meeting on Wednesday. Courtesy. Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa departs Kigali following the signing of the landmark deals. Courtesy. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is seen off by Member of Cabinet Francis Gatare (background); Army Chief of Staff. Rwanda Defence Forces, Gen Jacques Musemakweli; and Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations) Dan Munyuza at Kigali International Airport on Wednesday. Courtesy. President Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique arrives at Kigali International Airport ahead of his departure following the signing of the three AU instruments in Kigali. Courtesy. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta was seen of by John Rwangombwa, the Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda (right). Courtesy. Mauritania President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz was seen off by State Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Isaac Munyakazi (left). Courtesy. Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba shortly before departure at Kigali International Airport on Wednesday. Courtesy. Angolan President João Lourenço heads to his plane at the Kigali International Airport. Courtesy. editorial@newtimes.co.rw