The First Lady of the Republic of Angola, Her Excellency Ana Dias Lourenço, has called for a truly inclusive implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), urging African leaders and stakeholders to place women, youth and the informal sector at the centre of the continent’s economic transformation.
Speaking at the African Prosperity Dialogues (APD) 2026 under the theme “Building an Inclusive Africa,” Mrs. Lourenço stressed that AfCFTA must be seen not merely as a technical trade agreement, but as a strategic tool capable of transforming Africa’s vast resources, cultural diversity and human capital into shared and sustainable prosperity.
She noted that while Africa has laid a solid foundation for an integrated continental market, the long-term success of AfCFTA depends on its ability to be inclusive, fair and participatory, particularly for millions of people operating within the informal economy.
According to her, the Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade remains central to AfCFTA’s effectiveness, as economic inclusion does not occur automatically but requires deliberate policies, corrective measures and sustained efforts to dismantle structural barriers that limit women and young people’s participation in formal trade.
The Angolan First Lady underscored the need for sustained investment in modern physical and digital infrastructure, simplified access to finance, and strengthened productive capacity across Africa. She also highlighted digital inclusion, technological literacy and access to e-commerce platforms as key pillars for modern economic participation.
Mrs. Lourenço further called for the removal of linguistic barriers across the continent, noting that Africa’s linguistic diversity should be celebrated as a cultural asset rather than allowed to hinder trade, dialogue and negotiation among Africans.
Touching on Angola’s development priorities, she said the country continues to invest heavily in human capital, quality education and technical and vocational training to prepare its youth for an increasingly diversified economy. Angola’s growth strategy, she explained, is focused on agriculture, industry, renewable energy, the digital economy and technological innovation as engines for job creation and reduced external vulnerability.
She also drew attention to climate change as a major threat to Africa’s future, emphasizing that sustainable free trade cannot exist without climate-resilient agriculture. Women farmers, she said, must be supported with access to green technologies and knowledge to ensure food security.
As Vice President of the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD), Mrs. Lourenço highlighted the body’s current theme, “First Ladies Promoting Leadership and the Advancement of Women’s Rights through the Valorization of African Heritage,” aimed at mobilizing resources and partnerships to address global challenges such as conflict and climate change.
Sharing experiences from her work through the Ngana Zenza Foundation, she cited initiatives such as “Transform Lives, Be a Woman” and the Cunene Youth Campus, which focus on leadership, entrepreneurship, vocational skills and civic engagement for women and young people.
Mrs. Lourenço concluded that the economic exclusion of women and youth poses a serious risk to Africa’s stability and competitiveness, stressing that inclusion is both a moral necessity and a smart economic strategy.
“We have a sovereign opportunity to rewrite Africa’s narrative,” she said. “Let us build an AfCFTA that leaves no one behind and invests boldly in women and youth for shared African prosperity.”
