The African Competition Forum (ACF) Annual Meeting 2026, held on 13–14 April in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, successfully brought together Heads of Competition Authorities, senior officials from across Africa and in collaboration with esteemed regional partners, Tanzania Fair Competition Commission, COMESA Competition and Consumer Commission, Shamba Centre for Food and Climate and Centre for Competition, Regulation and Economic Development (CCRED), to advance cooperation and strengthen competition enforcement dialogue in an evolving economic landscape.
Chaired by the Competition Commission (Mauritius), the meeting provided a strategic platform to reflect on the Forum’s progress, address shared enforcement challenges, and define priorities for the final phase of the ACF Workplan (2024–2026). Mr Vipin Naugah, Executive Director of the Competition Commission (Mauritius), in his capacity as ACF Chairperson, led key discussions and set the tone for forward-looking deliberations on competition policy in Africa.
Key Outcomes and Discussions
The programme combined high-level strategic discussions with technical capacity-building through two main components:
Heads of Authorities and senior officials convened in a closed session, presided by Mr Vipin Naugah, ACF Chairperson, to:
The Workshop opened with a Keynote Speech from Ms Apoche Itimu, Director of Legal and Compliance Services at the COMESA Competition and Consumer Commission with technical sessions led by competition experts and consultants – Mr Francis W. Kariuki, MBS, Competition Law and Policy Consultant; Prof. Simon Roberts, Professor of Economics, University of Johannesburg; and Mr Chilufya Sampa, Special Advisor Competition Law and Policy, Shamba Centre for Food and Climate. At the heart of the discussions were issues in digital and food markets and featured:
These sessions contributed to a tailored capacity-building programme aimed at strengthening enforcement capabilities across ACF member agencies, particularly in addressing the complexities of unilateral conduct in digital markets.
Highlights of the Meeting
Looking Ahead
As markets become increasingly digital and complex, the discussions in Dar es Salaam underscored the importance of adaptive enforcement frameworks, enhanced technical capacity, and sustained regional cooperation. The ACF Annual Meeting 2026 reaffirmed the Forum’s role as a key platform for shaping the future of competition policy and enforcement across Africa.
The outcomes of the meeting will inform ongoing and future ACF initiatives, ensuring that member authorities remain equipped to address both traditional and emerging competition challenges.
