President John Dramani Mahama has urged African countries to deepen economic cooperation, describing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a critical tool for preventing conflicts and promoting lasting peace across the continent.
He said stronger economic ties among African nations could reduce tensions by making countries more dependent on one another for trade, investment and essential supplies.
President Mahama made the remarks at the 12th Tana High-Level Forum on Peace in Africa in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, where he presented the 2026 State of Peace and Security in Africa Report, covering developments between January 2025 and June 2026.
He cautioned against viewing the AfCFTA merely as a platform for expanding commercial activities, arguing that its potential contribution to peace and security was equally significant.
“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.
According to the President, increased trade among African countries could raise the economic cost of conflict and encourage nations to view their neighbours as valuable partners rather than potential adversaries.
He also noted that integrated and traceable supply chains could help curb illicit economic activities, including the smuggling of minerals, illegal taxation at roadblocks and the operations of warlords.
President Mahama further identified the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), which enables cross-border transactions in African currencies, as an important mechanism for strengthening regional economic relations and reducing the continent’s vulnerability to external economic shocks.
However, he stressed that economic cooperation alone could not guarantee peace, noting that political dialogue and negotiated settlements remained essential to resolving conflicts.
“Trade cannot replace political settlement, but poverty and border friction will always guarantee war,” he said.
He called on African leaders to strengthen regional partnerships and address the economic inequalities and hardships that contribute to instability.
President Mahama maintained that lasting peace on the continent would require a combination of effective security measures, political solutions and economic justice.
