African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) and Migrants’ Social and Economic Rights - Gaps and Prospects in Terms of Access and Protection

Abstract

This article focuses on the mobility component of the AfCFTA and calls attention to the social and economic vulnerability of African   migrants in Africa. It draws from empirical studies on the vulnerability of African migrants and rigorous theoretical analysis to link the implementation of the AfCFTA to the possibility of a rise in the socio-economic vulnerability of African migrants. It then examines gaps in the regional  approach to protect the social and economic rights of African migrants in that context. The article argues that the mobility component of the AfCFTA needs to guarantee substantive social and economic wellbeing of vulnerable African migrants.