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On April 4, 2025, the GW Competition Law Center hosted a high-level panel discussion titled "Unlocking Africa’s Economic Potential: Exploring Competition Law and Economic Integration" at The George Washington University Law School. The event brought together distinguished experts from African competition authorities, international organizations, and academia to examine the evolving role of competition policy in fostering economic integration across the continent under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Moderated by Professor William Kovacic, Director of the GW Competition Law Center and former Chair of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, alongside Dr. Liat Davis, Postdoctoral Visiting Scholar at the Center, the panel featured a diverse and influential group of speakers. These included Florence Abebe, Head of the Anticompetitive Practices Department at the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission of Nigeria; Willard Mwemba, Director and Chief Executive Officer of the COMESA Competition Commission; Dr. Mahmoud Momtaz, Chairperson of the Egyptian Competition Authority; and Professor Frédéric Jenny, Chair of the OECD Competition Committee and Professor at ESSEC Business School. The discussion was further enriched by remarks from Sarah Samir, Visiting Fellow from the Egyptian Competition Authority, and Aljohrh Al Abdulsalam, a Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.) candidate at GW Law.
The event addressed a range of timely and complex issues, including the implementation of the AfCFTA Competition Protocol, the importance of harmonized enforcement across jurisdictions, and the potential of competition policy to promote cross-border trade, dynamic markets, and inclusive economic growth. The speakers also emphasized the significance of institutional cooperation and the need for capacity-building to support effective competition enforcement throughout the African continent.
By convening this discussion, the GW Competition Law Center reaffirmed its commitment to fostering international collaboration, supporting academic engagement, and contributing to the global discourse on competition law and policy. The Center extends its sincere thanks to all speakers and participants for their insights and contributions to this important conversation.