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In brief

The latest edition of our Competition in Africa Report offers a detailed analysis and overview of recent developments in competition law enforcement and competition policy in 32 African jurisdictions. This report also provides an overview of regulatory and legislative dynamics and challenges in selected markets. It is a collaborative effort between Baker McKenzie’s African Competition teams and its Africa Relationship Firms.


With thanks to our Africa Relationship Firms and our Baker McKenzie Africa Competition team for their assistance with this Report.

  • Kamal Nasrollah, Managing Partner, Casablanca
  • Keltoum Boudribila, Partner, Casablanca
  • Dr. Mohamed Elfar, Counsel, Cairo
  • Clara Hansen, Associate, Johannesburg
  • Hania Negm, Associate, Cairo
  • Othmane Drissi Kaitouni, Jurist, Casablanca
  • Jarryd Hartley, Associate Designate, Johannesburg

Key takeaways

Competition law in Africa is rapidly transforming, with key trends including a growing focus on competition policy enforcement, competition protection, a focus on sustainable business practices and a sustained emphasis on public interest concerns. Competition laws and regulations continue to be introduced, amended and aligned with regional competition law, and there has been a general upward trend in collaborative discussions and market studies as a means of improving and developing antitrust laws and regulations.

According to our Competition in Africa Report 2024, competition authorities across the continent are playing an important role as champions, advocates and enforcers of competition policy and share the view that such policy is a key driver of economic growth. Regulators are also becoming increasingly connected, sharing information and ideas and working together to enforce competition laws. The African Continental Free Trade Area has also been pivotal in shaping a pan-African competition policy, aligning with the trend of fostering a consistent approach to the public interest and further emphasizing the growing collaboration amongst competition enforcers. The adoption of the Protocol on Competition Policy by the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government in February 2023 underlines this collective effort.

Numerous African jurisdictions have strengthened their competition and antitrust regimes by way of amendments to existing legislation, a concerted focus on market inquiries, the introduction of new laws and regulations, and renewed fervor and political will to enforce existing laws.

Download our Report for more information on the latest developments in competition law in 32 African jurisdictions.

Author

Lerisha Naidu is the Managing Partner of the Johannesburg office and member of the Antitrust & Competition Practice Group.

Author

Angelo Tzarevski is an associate director in Baker McKenzie’s Antitrust & Competition Practice Group in Johannesburg.

Author

Sphesihle Nxumalo is a senior associate in Baker McKenzie's Antitrust & Competition Practice Group in Johannesburg.
His experience spans the entire spectrum of antitrust and competition law across all African jurisdictions.
Sphesihle advises and represents blue chip multinational companies on high value and complex merger transactions, as well as on antitrust litigation relating to abuse of dominance, cartel conduct and vertical restraints.
He has a wealth of experience and routinely advises and acts for clients in diverse industries including private equity, telecommunications, media, technology, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, financial services, automotive, industrials, petroleum, mining and construction.
He was part of the multi-firm, multi-jurisdictional team that won the Global Competition Review 2020 Award for Merger Control Matter of the Year for Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa.