The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has launched a groundbreaking competition and consumer protection framework designed to drive investment, foster innovation, and promote sustainable, inclusive growth across its 21 Member States.
The new framework broadens public interest considerations in enforcement, explicitly incorporating employment, small and medium enterprise (SME) participation, environmental sustainability, and innovation. It also allows direct referral of cases to the COMESA Court of Justice, streamlining dispute resolution and strengthening the rule of law.
With a combined population of 682 million and a GDP exceeding US$1.1 trillion, COMESA officials emphasized that robust competition enforcement is critical for attracting foreign investment, reducing barriers to market entry, and supporting inclusive economic development. Foreign direct investment into the region reached US$65 billion in 2024, highlighting growing investor confidence in a transparent, rules-based market.
Transparency and Regional Collaboration
The regulations reinforce collaboration between the regional Commission, national authorities, other regional economic communities, and continental bodies, aligning with Africa’s ongoing integration agenda.
As COMESA begins implementing the 2025 framework alongside its 2026–2030 Medium-Term Strategic Plan, officials pledged to maintain enforcement that is transparent, business-friendly, and consumer-focused, while preserving competitive markets.
The launch in Livingstone, Zambia, signals a renewed commitment to creating a fair, competitive, and consumer-centric Common Market capable of meeting the challenges of digitalisation, cross-border trade, and inclusive regional development.
