AfCFTA Protocol on IP Rights: Parliamentary Engagement Across Africa

Date: Ongoing, with key discussions in 2024–2025
The AfCFTA Protocol on Intellectual Property Rights, under negotiation in 2025, has prompted African parliaments to align national IP laws with regional goals. At the 5th All Africa IP Summit (November 28–30, 2024, Kigali), parliamentarians from 16 African countries, supported by IPLA and the African Intellectual Property Centre, discussed strategies to integrate IP frameworks with AfCFTA’s trade objectives. The summit emphasized parliamentary action to address fragmented IP laws, which hinder enforcement across borders.

Countries like Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa are reviewing IP legislation to support AfCFTA’s protocol, with IPLA advocating for protections for traditional knowledge (TK) and traditional cultural expressions (TCEs). For example, Kenya’s parliament is considering amendments to its 2016 Industrial Property Act to include TK, inspired by South Africa’s 2013 Intellectual Property Laws Amendment Act (IPLAA). These efforts aim to create a unified IP ecosystem that fosters innovation and wealth creation, potentially unlocking $20 billion in creative economy revenue.
Source: Africa.com, July 22, 2024; Atlantic Council, September 23, 2024