On 9 June 2026, the Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs (TM-School) hosted a virtual seminar to examine the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a mechanism for advancing the Pan-Africanist vision of development and human security across the continent. The event brought together scholars and researchers interested in African development, regional integration, security and governance.

The seminar was premised on the understanding that the AfCFTA is not merely a trade agreement, but also the culmination of a long historical process, rooted in Pan-Africanism. The discussions highlighted how Pan-Africanism emerged as a response to slavery, colonialism, racism and economic marginalisation, advocating for African unity, self-determination and collective prosperity. Within this context, the AfCFTA was presented as a contemporary expression of Pan-African aspirations aimed at promoting economic integration, industrialisation and sustainable development across the region.

The main presenters were Dr Rich Mashimbye and Dr Sphephelo Zubane. Mashimbye provided a historical overview of Pan-Africanism, examining its origins and evolution, focusing on its proponents and the ideas that anchored it. He contended that while Pan-Africanism was an ideology that emerged from the liberation struggle in Africa, it also has a development vision embedded in it. At its core, it calls for the unity of Africa, integration and the use of African resources to develop the continent, along with the pursuit and attainment of self-reliance. These ideas formed the background against which the AfCFTA emerged.

Zubane explored the relationship between the AfCFTA and human security. Drawing on the human security framework, particularly the four pillars of military and strategic security, environmental security, population health and economic security, he argued that the AfCFTA has the potential to make a significant contribution to improving socioeconomic and security conditions in Africa. The central argument was that enhanced intra-African trade, economic diversification, industrial development and regional cooperation can contribute to improved livelihoods, employment creation, poverty reduction and, ultimately, human well-being.

A key aspect of the presentation was situating the AfCFTA in an historical and ideological context of the liberation struggle and demonstrating how the AfCFTA can be understood as part of a broader Pan-African project that seeks to transform Africa, from a supplier of raw materials into a continent characterised by value addition, beneficiation and advanced industrial production. The seminar also examined the challenges in implementing the AfCFTA. Discussions emphasised that the success of the agreement depends on several factors, including political stability, peace and security, infrastructure development, institutional capacity and the willingness of member states to implement agreed protocols fully. Ongoing conflicts, political instability, weak infrastructure networks and economic disparities among African states were identified as significant obstacles that could undermine the full realisation of the AfCFTA's objectives.

The seminar also benefited from a robust engagement with participants during the discussion session. The questions and comments reflected a strong interest in understanding the connections among Pan-Africanism, AfCFTA, development and human security. Moreover, participants enquired about the relevance of Pan-Africanism as a framework for development in present-day Africa, which generated intense and profound discussions and reflections in the seminar. The interactions enriched the discussion and highlighted the need for continued research on the development-security nexus within the African context, and the relevance of Pan-Africanism in politically independent Africa. In essence, the seminar was abuzz with ideas on Pan-Africanism, the AfCFTA, socioeconomic development and human security in Africa.

The seminar reinforced the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in understanding continental development initiatives. The discussion demonstrated that trade, security, governance and development cannot be treated as separate policy domains. Instead, they are interconnected processes that collectively shape the prospects for peace, stability and prosperity in Africa. The AfCFTA, therefore, represents not only an economic project but also a strategic instrument that can contribute to broader developmental and human security objectives.

In summary, the seminar successfully achieved its objective of fostering critical dialogue on the (possible) role of the AfCFTA in advancing the Pan-African vision of development and human security. 

* By Dr Rich Mashimbye and Dr Sphephelo Zubane, Postdoctoral  Research Fellows at the TM-School