The AFCFTA Dispute Settlement Mechanism

The AfCFTA DSM is central to providing security and predictability to the African regional trading system. It is limited to disputes between State parties concerning rights and obligations emanating from the provisions of the AfCFTA Agreement. It is important to note that the AfCFTA Agreement is a single undertaking[1]; therefore, the definition of ‘Agreement’ is construed to include the AfCFTA Agreement, its protocols, its annexes, and its appendices.[1] The significance of this construction is that disputes can arise from an impairment or nullification of the rights and obligations captured in any of these instruments and not just the AfCFTA Agreement.  In this way, the AfCFTA DSM aims to preserve the rights and obligations of the State parties under the AfCFTA Agreement, its protocols, its annexes, and its appendices.

The AfCFTA Dispute Settlement Mechanism Organs
The AfCFTA DSM primarily comprises of three organs: the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB), the Dispute Resolution Panels (the Panels), and the Appellate Body. Below, we briefly analyse the role played by each of these organs.

The DSB
The DSB is established by Article 20 (3) of the AfCFTA Agreement to administer the provisions of the Protocol. It comprises of State party representatives and is headed by the DSB Chairperson. Going by WTO practice[2], these representatives will consist of ambassadors or persons of equivalent ranking from each State party. Additionally, decisions of the DSB are taken by consensus. The functions of the DSB, include;
a) establishing the Panels and an Appellate Body;
b) adopting Panel and Appellate Body reports;
c) maintaining surveillance of implementation of rulings and recommendations of the Panels and Appellate Body; and
d) authorising the suspension of concessions and other obligations under the Agreement.

The Panels
The Panels are primarily tasked with carrying out an objective assessment of the matters before them. Notably, a recommendation of the Panels only becomes binding on the State parties through adoption by the DSB which is why the Panels are said to assist the DSB in discharging its functions.

Once a dispute arises and a Panel is established, the panellists are selected by the AfCFTA Secretariat. The State parties to the dispute may only reject the panellists nominated to the dispute where there are compelling reasons. Additionally, the number of panellists depends on the number of State parties to the dispute. In a dispute with two State parties there shall be three panellists, and where there are more than two State parties the panel shall comprise five panellists.

The Appellate Body   
The Appellate Body is established to hear appeals from Panel cases which can only be made by the State parties to the dispute. A notice of appeal suspends the adoption of the Panel report by the DSB until the appeal is concluded. Furthermore, an appeal shall be limited to issues of law covered in the Panel report and legal interpretations developed by the Panel as per Article 21 (3) of the Protocol.

The Appellate Body members will be appointed by the DSB for a four-year term with the possibility of a single reappointment. The appointment will be on a rolling basis to fill vacancies as they arise. These vacancies will be filled within a period of two months after arising. Article 20 (6) of the Protocol appears to respond to the WTO Appellate Body crisis[3], where a single State has successfully blocked the appointment of new members to the Body, because the Protocol provides for an alternative route to appointment of Appellate Body members by the DSB through consensus; thus, state parties are prevented from unilaterally blocking Appellate Body member appointments. This alternative route provides for appointment by the DSB Chairperson in consultation with the Secretariat within one month of the two-month period lapsing.