African leaders are intensifying efforts to bolster the continent’s economic sovereignty through two major initiatives aimed at overcoming trade barriers and financing critical infrastructure. On February 14, 2026, African Heads of State and Government officially launched the Africa Infrastructure Financing Facility (AIFF), a new platform designed to fast-track the financing of cross-border infrastructure projects essential for the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

 

The launch, which took place during the Third Presidential High-Level Dialogue of the Alliance of African Multilateral Financial Institutions (AAMFI), is a direct response to the continent’s significant infrastructure funding deficit, estimated to be around US$221 billion annually between 2023 and 2030, according to the African Union Commission. The AIFF aims to intentionally deploy parts of Africa’s domestic capital pools, which exceed $2.5 trillion, into vital infrastructure and industrialization projects.

 

This development comes as stakeholders at the 2026 extraordinary session of the ECOWAS Parliament, held on February 24, called for urgent action to deepen the implementation of the AfCFTA. Despite the trade agreement’s potential, intra-regional trade within the ECOWAS bloc languishes at less than 10%, as noted by multiple speakers. Nigeria’s Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, highlighted the disparity, stating that intra-ECOWAS trade is stalled at 11.5% despite a market potential of $3.4 trillion. He urged a critical shift from “paper integration” to “functional integration” to close the gap between aspiration and reality.

 

According to The Guardian (Nigeria), ECOWAS Parliament Speaker Hadja Mémounatou Ibrahima warned that member states that have not ratified the AfCFTA or defined national strategies are slowing down its coordinated implementation. The session aims to harmonize national policies and remove non-tariff barriers that impede the expansion of intra-community trade. The newly launched AIFF represents a significant step towards providing the financial backbone needed to build the corridors and connectivity that can transform the AfCFTA’s goals into a functional reality.

 

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