This morning March 21, 2018, African leaders, right from President Paul Kagame – the Chairman of the African Union, African Union Commission Chairman, Mousa Faki Mahamat as well as President of Niger – Mahamadou Issoufou recalled the years as if it was yesterday.

The leaders and the entire African continent paid tribute to the unique African son – former President of Ghana Nkwame Nkrumah, who launched the Pan African movement that later gave birth to the current African Union.

Today, the leaders had reasons to recall Nkwameh Nkrumah as history was being made.

According to President of Mahamadou Issoufou, the Champion of the African Continental Free Trade Area, 44 countries signed the historic Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) – an agreement that officially made Africa an open one single market for all Africans.

Moreover, 43 countries also signed the Kigali declaration while 27 countries signed the protocol of the free movement of people.

All agreements considered however, 50 countries signed either of them.

It was a long journey – right from the Abuja Treaty in 1991, which set foot for the current AfCFTA.

At exactly 12 noon Kigali time, the President of Niger moved forward from the upfront executive seat and sat on the lower seat to sign the agreement.

Niger President was followed by President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and the Chairman of the African Union.

Other countries including; Tchad, Angola, Central African Republic, comoros; Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Ghana, Gambia; Gabon, Kenya, Mozambique; Saharawi Republic, Senegal, South Africa; Sudan, Mauritania, Zimbabwe, Morocco, Swaziland, Tanzania, Ivory Coast, Mali, DRC, Uganda; Togo, Benin, South Sudan, Liberia, Somalia, Sao Tome & Principle; Equatorial Guinea, Lesotho also signed.

Three documents were signed including the establishment of Continental Free Trade Area, the Protocol of the Free Movement of People and the Kigali Declaration.