African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement investor protection and capital market in Africa

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the modalities for the curtailment of expropriation of investment in the course of implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement and to ensure that the African capital markets contribute robustly to economic growth. Design/methodology/approach The paper relies on the doctrinal approach to assess the state of play and the prospects for the future. Findings The paper found that African capital markets are fragmented and continue to suffer from poor investor protection which lowers market confidence. Originality/value The paper offers new insights on the regulatory approaches to foster investor protection in light of the emergence of the AfCFTA, regulation of executive compensation and need for harmonization of best practices across African markets.