President John Dramani Mahama has called for deeper economic integration among African countries, describing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a major instrument for preventing conflict and strengthening peaceful relations across the continent.
Speaking at the 12th Tana High-Level Forum on Peace in Africa in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, President Mahama presented the 2026 State of Peace and Security in Africa Report, covering developments from January 2025 to June 2026.
He argued that the AfCFTA should not be viewed solely as a commercial initiative, but also as a framework for reducing tensions by making African countries more economically interdependent.
“We often view the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) purely as a commercial project. That is a mistake. The AfCFTA is perhaps our greatest architecture for conflict prevention,” he said.
President Mahama explained that stronger trade links could increase the economic cost of conflict and encourage countries to see their neighbours as valuable trading partners and suppliers rather than adversaries.
He also said integrated and traceable value chains could help dismantle illicit economies associated with smuggled minerals, illegal taxation at roadblocks and the activities of warlords.
The President further highlighted the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), which facilitates cross-border payments in African currencies, as another mechanism for strengthening regional economic ties and reducing Africa’s exposure to external economic shocks.
However, he cautioned that economic integration alone could not resolve conflicts, stressing that political agreements and settlements remained necessary for lasting peace.
“Trade cannot replace political settlement, but poverty and border friction will always guarantee war,” he said.
President Mahama urged African countries to strengthen regional cooperation and address the economic conditions that fuel instability, arguing that sustainable peace must be supported by both security measures and economic justice.