Comesa's Trade Directorate, a critical hub for regional economic integration, operates with a skeleton staff of just four full-time employees, raising concerns about its ability to manage growing trade responsibilities across Africa's largest economic bloc.
The directorate, tasked with resolving trade disputes, developing policies, and leading negotiations for the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa), has struggled to keep pace with demands since 2018. Despite its pivotal role in advancing the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) and supporting the broader African Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA), the office lacks sufficient personnel to address urgent trade issues.
During 2019, the directorate handled three major trade interventions, including on-the-spot verifications that require staff to travel to border crossings. A 2017 example highlighted the consequences of these limitations: Kenyan importers faced significant costs when Mauritian sugar shipments were delayed in Mombasa. The delay occurred because a senior official was occupied with an Egypt-Sudan dispute, illustrating how staffing shortages can disrupt supply chains and harm businesses.
While the European Union is set to fund two additional staff members through its Trade Facilitation Regional Programme, the directorate remains under-resourced. This lack of capacity affects not only intra-Comesa trade but also negotiations with global partners, including the EU and the US under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa).
Comesa Secretary General Chileshe Kapwepwe has emphasized the need for better resourcing to maximize the bloc's trade potential. However, with member states prioritizing long-term CFTA goals, immediate investments in the directorate's capacity remain critical to realizing tangible benefits from regional integration.
