African leaders, Presidents, heads of state, and government officials, who gathered at the ongoing fourth edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) in Algiers, Algeria, have called for renewed and intensified efforts toward deepening Africa’s integration to achieve shared prosperity.
 
They collectively emphasised the urgent need to restore the continent’s competitive position in the global market and address the vast infrastructure deficits that continued to hinder sustainable development across Africa.
 
At the opening ceremony, the President of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, lamented that Africa was still in the process of catching up with its past deficiencies that had widened development gaps and prevented the continent from attaining its full potential on the global stage.
 
Tebboune stated that there was an urgency for Africa to reclaim its rightful position in the international market. 
 
Joining in the call for African economic integration, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Prof. Benedict Oramah, emphasised that Africa was not in search of handouts or fleeting support, but rather of genuine partnerships that could help the continent prevail in its pursuit of sustainable development.  
 
According to Oramah, the kind of collaboration Africa seeks goes far beyond traditional aid and grants, but is one rooted in mutual respect, trust, and a shared prosperity.

Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat and co-convener of the IATF, Wamkele Mene, revealed that the third edition of the fair generated more than $43 billion in trade and investment deals.
 
He expressed confidence that this year’s edition would surpass that figure, driven by a shared determination among African nations to strengthen economic ties and enhance intra-continental trade.
 
In his contribution, the President of Tunisia, Kais Saied, warned against the moral and humanitarian crises plaguing parts of Africa.
 
He decried the alarming rise in human trafficking, organ harvesting, and violence across the continent, noting that the atrocities were a contradiction to the ideals of those who fought for Africa’s independence. 

He called on African leaders to take responsibility and rebuild the continent into a future worthy of its people and their sacrifices, insisting that Africa’s dignity and glory must not be allowed to fade.
 
President Daniel Francisco Chapo of Mozambique called for peace, unity, and cooperation for Africa, stating that Africa must unite as brothers and sisters in a shared struggle for liberation, not just from colonial legacies, but from poverty, instability, and economic exclusion.

According to him, without peace and solidarity, the continent’s vision for integration and prosperity will remain elusive. 
 
In his opening remarks at the event, Obasanjo highlighted the significance of the trade fair in promoting economic integration and development across the continent. 
 
He noted that the IATF had successfully rotated among various African nations, each time leaving a lasting legacy while enhancing trade capacities and infrastructure in its host countries.
 
Referring to the upcoming edition, he said, “Today, we announce Lagos, Nigeria, as the next destination for the IATF in 2027, a step that will further consolidate the Fair’s impact on the continent’s economic transformation.”