it's estimated the african continental free trade area could see business between african nations increased by more than fifty percent within four years the idea is to bring together countries with a combined population of one point two billion people and gross domestic product or g.d.p. of more than two trillion dollars into one market so far four to four of the african union's fifty five member states have signed the protocol that argument commits countries to removing tariffs on ninety percent of goods and lifting all body has to trade with in the continent eventually the free movement of people and even a single currency could become part of the free trade area. and here in our studio to discuss this we have professor long to be senior he is a fellow on the global economy and development program at the brookings institution from the norwegian capital oslo we have more thought i know she is a former advisor to the transitional federal government of somalia and from boston we have because. a sudanese activist he is a graduate student at the heller school for social policy and management a

the creation of the world trade organization in one thousand nine hundred five for out of the african continental free trade area would bring fifty five nations under one umbrella for business now the african union hopes a final deal will supercharge trading between african nations and sperm point nonetheless some member states have their reservations al-jazeera is not how much was a last week's free trade summit in the rwandan capital kigali it's estimated that up for can continue until for you could see business between a few conditions increased by more than fifty percent within four years the idea is to bring together countries with a combined population of one point two billion people and gross domestic product or g.d.p. of more than two billion dollars into one market so fall for two for all of the african union's fifty five member states have signed the protocol commits countries to moving toward have someone to pull sense of goods and if all body has to trade with the continent eventually the free movement of people and even a single currency could become part of the free trade. and here

well the african continental free trade area has been forty years in the making it's an africa y. trade bloc similar to the which would allow the unrestricted movement of people goods and capital across fifty five countries the current combined g.d.p. is around two and a half trillion dollars as you are saying the u.n. estimates that the free trade area agreement could expand africa's economy to twenty nine trillion dollars by the year two thousand and fifteen there is mohammad i don't has more now from cake ali this is a huge deal for africa african leaders hope for the past forty years been talking about more trade between african countries and today with the argument the process has begun with the free trade. being published it's a very long process riddled with challenges it will begin with to for kitchen of the agreement in individual countries thoughts climate this will involve negotiations with trade unions and the private sector in every country to ensure that all sectors that are very crucial to the success of these agreements are on board the absence of nigerian presiden

and its trade partners and in the midst of it african leaders just signed the creation of the african continental free trade area let's take a look at what it implies that in visions the largest free trade agreement created since the world trade organization was created in one thousand nine hundred ninety five the aim is to include all these fifty five member states of the african union one day but starting with up to forty four states until the end of this year now if the free trade zone actually comes into being it would create a single market with attractive numbers up to one point two billion people a gross domestic product of two point five trillion u.s. dollars combined and even if the countries would lose money from tariffs they would still generate about sixteen billion dollars in long term world's fair it sounds like a great idea as usual but as often happens it's easier said than done. africa is a potentially gigantic market of up to one point two billion people many of them desperately poor the new agreement is a major step towards improving the lot. their promise of a free trade and f

president is selected and african leaders are meeting in rwanda to sign a new free trade deal the african continental free trade area would allow unrestricted movement of people goods and capital across fifty five countries those are the headlines we're back with more after al-jazeera world. the. the. one with two other high achieving you on a new ability was quick to be with us and i'm a woman who spent her life between her pens stationery books and research or had all my thoughts have been centered around ideals and this idealistic life made to me ignore how militias people could be. ignored the malice and some people's deadly poison disguised as softness. with. mazie or the other thing. you know. there's a fork of the misfit the little get off the free and open and then. you have swag and i'm alone. and i'm going to get in saying well why if it costs more than at who may you know me at the middle maybe in santa. and the family friend. of kathy. shadow mazie or the thought of the wal-mart. yani. would agree but. i knew how to move the moment. will it. be easier. still at the bailout of the united s

because gandhi i just want to kind of outline who is in and out support is at a high for the african continental free trade area in its current form eighty percent of african nations have signed the agreement regional economic powerhouses however south africa and nigeria are among those that are withholding their signature for now as we've been discussing along with countries including sierra leone as well as peru indian but swan so with that in mind going to i want to bring your attention to this tweet kind of comments on what we heard from him on that he just be just saying he's disappointed to see that nigeria is not part of the deal it's my opinion that the government lacks the courage and willingness to improve the economy to make it competitive by providing basic amenities like electricity water good roads security they rather decided to quit of course infrastructure is one of the concerns by many who are looking at this deal what do you think is going to fall but i don't really african interconnectedness in terms of trade and development has been an issue and an important issue and we all

kigali, rawanda, leaders of 55 african countries will sign an agreement that will launch the african continentalet all the latest from the bbc sports centre. hello. i'm tulsen tollett. coming up in your wednesday sport briefing: the world's best golfers are gathering in texas for the wgc matchplay. it's winner—takes—all between west indies and scotland as they bid for a place at next year's cricket world cup. and ashley young defends his manchester united manager, jose mourinho. 64 of the world's best golfers are in austin, texas, for the wgc match play tournament. the round—robin matches get under way on wednesday, before two single—elimination rounds at the weekend. four—time major champion rory mcilroy won his first title for 18 months last weekend and former world number one jordan spieth says he'll be a favourite for the masters in two weeks' time. whether he won last week or not, he is always a force and needs to be healthy. just being rested and healthy. just being rested and healthy and on the right path, going forward , healthy and on the right path, going forward, rory is rory, and so

shery: another big headline last week was the launch of the african continental fta. how important is interregional trade? do african nations see china as more in line with the comes to trade? ,ec. kituyi: first and foremost free trade in the area of africa has been long overdue. vulnerabilities, short-term -- projected $4.5 billion. importantly, africa will be in its capacity to be players in international trade by learning how to create regional and local value chains. is not whether china is a good partner or not. china is making itself available as a partner. the competition to china is not availing itself. invest andady to ready to find extraction of resources for its own benefit. the challenges -- the challenge muchthey will be more amenable to consume products from the west and china. when the west is reluctant and china is availing itself that is when opportunity is created. shery: thank you so much. next.oming up this is bloomberg. david:david: reports are that san francisco fed president john williams may succeed new york fed president bill dudley but not eve

we also have, despite donald trump, we have the ttp, moving ahead without the us, we have an african continental, which wants to speak for all of africa, eventually. we may have nafta, with donald trump reforming it in a different way. our regional blocs the way in which global trade is to be governed in the future? i think they have always been there. and the more we have of them, the better. really? that is the nature of the organisation and the way it has always been. it is easy to manage somethings regionally rather than globally. what has historically happened is that those blocs negotiate new tariffs and disciplines, and then they are brought to the wto, and you try to harmonise them with the other members. that is the way it has always been. that's not new. what is newer is the new initiatives. but the dynamic is the same. really it is just about leverage. really the two biggest economic powers in the world, the united states, and the new urgent dynamite economy in the world, china, they have leverage. they can negotiate on their own terms because they are the two most powerful economies

which will increase trade on the continent by fifty two percent over the next few years the african continental free trade area is being discussed at a summit in the rwandan capital kigali all fifty five member states of the african union are expected to agree to the deal on wednesday but major area that's africa's most populous country has pulled out other countries though still do plan to go ahead the deal would cover africa's one point two billion population and it's projected that it could give africa a g.d.p. equal to that of the u.s. and europe combined by twenty fifty. a species of the rhinoceros is a step closer towards extinction after the last male died in kenya vets and that the life of the northern white rhino called sudan when his health warse and d.n.a. samples were taken just before the forty five year old died in the hope that future technology could revive the species only two northern white females are alive after decades of poaching conservationists have been speaking about how they are working to prevent the complete extinction of the species. sudan has died but that does no

their bank thank you for your insight african leaders have just signed the creation of the african continental free trade area hoping to boost trade among their countries by eliminating tariffs and barriers and the agreement includes forty four african nations thereby making it the largest trade agreement by members however the two biggest economies of the continent nigeria and south africa decided not to be part of it. africa is a potentially gigantic market of up to one point two billion people many of them desperately poor the new agreement is a major step towards improving their lot. their promise of free trade and free movement is prosperity for africa because we are proud of the production of goods and services that. med enough. by boosting intra african trade the forty four participating countries hope to reduce their dependence on raw materials exports right now africa's countries only do about sixteen percent of their total trade with each other the new agreement is expected to come into effect in one hundred eighty days time though it first has to be ratified by each country's parlia

which will in create trade on the continent by fifty two percent over the next few years the african continental free trade area is being discussed at the summit in the one capital kigali all fifty five member states of the african union are expected to agree to the deal on wednesday despite nigeria pulling at one hundred though has more now from one of those capital it's been for two years in the making of the continental trade is still a working progress in terms of the regional integration there are countries such as judea the biggest corner real africa still dulcie of the agreement been signed here however the convenience of the summit say that they're looking for every african country to sign the agreement at this point in time all they're looking for is a whole twenty two members of the african union signing the agreement so that it comes into force and then we'll begin the process of the old countries domesticating agreement to sit with their muscle mauls issues all negotiating with the private sector conclusion of the trade unionists and ensuring that of rethink hopkins according to the

agreement which will increase trade on the continent by fifty two percent of the next few years the african continental free trade area is being discussed at a summit in the a wand and capital kigali all fifty five member states of the african union are expected to agree the deal on wednesday the spike nigeria pulling out lavender though has been following events from the rwandan capital. it's been for two years in the making but africa continental area is still a working progress of an attempt at regional integration there are countries such as nigeria the biggest economy in africa still doubtful of the agreement been signed here however the convenience of the summit say that they're not looking for each and every african country to sign the agreement at this point in time all they're looking for is a whole twenty two members of the african union signing the agreement so that it comes into force and then we'll begin the process of the old countries domesticating agreement to fit in with their national mall's issues all negotiating with the private sector countries and the trade unions and ensuring tha

and its trade partners african leaders just signed the creation of the african continental free trade area and envisions the largest free trade agreement since the world trade organization was created in one thousand nine hundred ninety five the aim is to include all fifty five member state of the current african union one day but starting with up to forty four states until the end of this year now if the free trade zone actually gets implemented it would create a single market with significant data up to one point two billion people and a combined gross domestic product of two point five trillion u.s. dollars now experts assume the countries will enjoy significant gains to their economies despite losing the money they collect with tariffs the deal could generate long term welfare gains of up to sixteen billion dollars but as usual the deal will still need to be approved in all national parliaments which is easier said than done we stay in the african continent because only a few things are more frustrating to produce farmers than seeing their harvest rot away because they can't sell

that will increase trade on the continent by fifty two percent over the next few years the african continental free trade area is being discussed at a summit in the rwandan capital kigali all fifty five member states of the african union are expected to agree to the deal on wednesday but in a blow to the plan nigeria which is the continent's most populous country and the richest has pulled out. a giant antarctic last year the size of france is melting faster than expected sparking fears it will cause sea levels to rise scientists say a large part of the top ten of last year is sitting directly on top of the sea enabling warm currents to melt it from below if it melts completely then world sea levels would rise by at least three meters. and those are the main stories coming out of love i'm going to have more of the top of the sixteen hundred new half hour news now let's go back to the region though our with thank you will see you then well if you're watching us on facebook live if you all female band that's trying to prove music can empower women that's coming up and also on the grid after a sh

which will increase trade on the continent by fifty two percent over the next few years the african continental free trade area is being discussed at a summit in the rwandan capital kigali all fifty five member states of the african union are expected to agree to the deal on wednesday nigeria which is africa's most populous and wealthiest country has pulled out but there are still plans for the others to go ahead it's projected that a deal covering africa's one point two billion population could give the continent a g.d.p. equal to that of the u.s. and europe combined by twenty fifty. and there are hopes the agreement will help ease the economic crisis in south sudan where drought and war have decimated it's in the streets the country now has to import pretty much everything but rising customs fees are making even the most basic products on affordable heba morgan reports now from juba. markets here in south sudan's capital juba may be packed with goods but almost all of them have one thing in common they had to be imported from neighboring countries rather better when most of their goods come f

am wondering about, the union navy had a high percentage of african-american s sailors, and now we know that the george washington's continental army was 3% african-american, and there was a whole regimen of rhode island black troops commanded by nathaniel green's cousin. and did the navy while it was more liberal and later bans them, did they look for the precedence, and why did the navy reverse itself after the war? >> well, that is a good question. i am not sure that i have an answer for that. i will let anyone else take that. >> i will take a piece of it. but they were an established part of the navy as the civil war started and the black role in the navy was used as an argument as to why blacks should be allowed to become soldiers. during the war they do become soldiers, but it is not surprising, because of the way it started in the youtset of th war, but as to piece of after the war why the navy is a lilly white institution by the time of theodore roosevelt, i don't know. >> well, ki address that. there was a quota the before the war in relation to the navy and it is not 11%, but 4%, and there were no commissioned office

the union navy had a higher percentage of african-american sailors, 15% than the euunion ay did soldiers. we now know that george washington's continental army was 3%s african-american. there was the whole regimen of rhode island i black troops by daniel's cousin. the navy, while it's more liberal during the war, after the war it bans them. did they look to precedenc of the war by independence, and then why did the navy completely separate itself after the war? >> that's a very good question. i'm not sure i have an answer for that. if anyone else wants to take it. >> i have a piece of an answer, which is the blacks had been serving in the navy, i don't know --r starting when, but the were a w passive part of the na whenck the civil war started. the black role in the navy was used as an argument as to why blacks should be allowed to become soldiers, and during the war they do become soldiers. but it's not surprising, in a way, that the percentages were lower in the army than in the navy, because in a way the navy started a step ahead of the army at the outset of the civil war. the piece after the war, i don't know the answer to as to why

union navy had a higher percentage of african-american sailors, i think 15% than the union army did soldiers. and we know, we now know that george washington's continental army was 3% african-american. there was a whole regiment of rhode island black troops commanded by nathaniel green's cousin. did the union army and the nauf sri, while it is more liberal during the war advancing, did they look forward to the presidents for the war of independence? and why did the navy completely reverse itself after the war? >> that's a very good question. i'm not sure i have an answer for that. so i'll let, if anyone else wants to take that. >> i have a piece of an answer, which is that blacks had been serving in the navy. i don't know starting when, but they were in an established part of the navy as the civil war started. and the black role in the navy was used as an argument as to why blacks should be allowed to become soldiers. so during the war, they do become that. but it's not surprising in a way that the percentages were lower in the army than in the navy because in a way the navy started a step ahead at the outset of the civil war. but the piece after the wa

african leaders along to what they hope will be the world's largest free trade area the continental free trade agreement wants to include the fifty five members of the african union and more than a billion african people today those are the headlines pricing the plan this is next. to have a look at the problem of global warming what is getting. our planet freaking i'll be saying that we're interested on the six massive six earth as we know it today will cease to exist if you live from each and every fields. nature is the eldorado of the twenty first century. a new economic sector with promises of huge potential investors banks finance corporations and states are attracted into the. barn where protecting landscapes accumulating that. it's a phenomenal opportunity to be able to use a business model to achieve sustainability of major. endangered species impetus to treat it like financial products. can market succeed where politics of so far failed. but it won't break. that will proof we're not accounting for the losses because we're not accounting for the income the assets of the same probl

the union navy had a higher percentage of african american sailors than the army did soldiers. washington's continental army was 3% african-american. there was a whole regimen of black troops commanded by nathanael greene's cousin. moreavy, while it is liberal during the war, after the war it bans them. they why did the navy completely why did the navy completely reverse itself after the war? >> that is a good question. [laughter] >> i'm not sure i have an answer for that. >> i have a piece of an answer, which is blacks had been serving in the navy, i don't know starting win, but they were an of the navy ast the civil war started, and the black role in the navy was used as an argument as to why black should be allowed to become soldiers. they do become soldiers during the war, but it is not surprising in the way that the percentages were lower in the army than in the navy, because in the way the navy started a step ahead of the army at the outset of the civil war, but after the war, i don't know the answer as to why the navy becomes sort of a lily white institution by the time of theodore roosevelt. ac

honed al-jazeera african leaders are launching what they hope will be the world's largest free trade area one president paul kagame is hosting the summit in the capital kigali the continental free trade agreement wants to include the fifty five members of the african union with its more than a billion africans. a species of the rhinoceros is a step closer towards extinction of to the last male died in kenya that's ended the life of the northern white rhino called sudan when his health worsened d.n.a. samples were taken just before the forty five year old died in the hope that future technology could revive the species only to northern white female survive after decades of poaching for their horns. he says al jazeera minder of our top stories local activists say about a dozen children have been killed while attempting to shelter from airstrikes in a school in syria's eastern huta they say thirty two people were killed in overnight shelling by the syrian government the rescue group the white helmets says weapons including white phosphorus which are banned in civilian areas have again been used in the thousand people killed in the past month as the government and its russian

african union himself. hold those entities from the regional to the continental a valuable and over the years the united states the invested resources not just military but economic and diplomatic and otherwise of regional entities for the right reasons, not a function of whether i have been the current context for were less present in parts of the world that would expect us to be there that we will continue to catalyze their own interest in building their regional capaci capacity. >> let's next for you? the 22 midterms are coming up. >> what's that got to do? >> what some people vote. >> i definitely vote. >> let's next for you? will you be politically active helping democratic candidates are helping with democratic advocacy? the content to hang out and teach first of all i am content to be at au. i'm grateful to be here. >> i didn't mean like break like you shifted into first gear, this is what's wrong with the president of the university is looking at you going, what? >> i'm very happy to be part of this family. more broadly, i'm writing a book. i'm doing some speaking and writing on national security issue

south african leaders are launching what they hope will be the world's largest free trade area the rwandan president paul kagame is hosting the event in the capital kigali a continental free trade agreement seeks to include fifty five members of the african union and more than a billion africans on the continent but in a blow to the agreement expected to be signed on wednesday nigeria the continent's most populous country has pulled out let's go live there and let's speak to our correspondent there mohamed today how on earth can this get under way then without not only the the continent's most populous country but the largest economy in nigeria how can they get it under way without a bridge or on board. well martin yes this is a huge search box full of the signing of the pole to pole which is going to open to all wednesday but this has been anticipated it was still going to nigeria that's obvious doubts many other african countries of the dolls and say we need to consult and move we need to see whether the pole to pole will be able to be the mystic came to you know all countries before we can append all signatures to it's. looking for is not a unanimous agreement all

african leaders are launching what they have will be the world's largest free trade area the president of rwanda program is hosting the summit in his capital kigali the continental free trade agreement seeks to include the fifty five members of the african union and that means more than a billion african people but in a blow to the agreement expected to be signed on wednesday nigeria the continent's most populous country and with the largest economy has pulled out. but in south sudan there are hopes that this continent wide agreement will ease its economic crisis drought and war have decimated the country's industries and it's now has to import almost everything but rising customs fees and making even the most basic products on affordable the reports from the capital juba markets here in south sudan's capital juba may be packed with goods but almost all of them have one thing in common they had to be imported from neighboring countries rather than most of our goods come from uganda kenya or even sudan that means we have to pay custom fees which keep rising to bring them in people now come and say they want goods but when they hear the price they walk away since

a single market with its continental free trade agreements later this month so clearly it's showing that he has some potential that he's trying to exploit and i think the african partners recognizing indeed the dynamism that is on the continent and looking to engage in order to crystallise their relationships. thank you very much for your time votes have been counted in sierra leone's hotly contested presidential election sixteen candidates are vying for the top job helping to lead the country out of its economic crisis the result won't be known for days but a runoff is widely expected but it is supports the capital freetown. president announced by. a polling station. after ten years in power he is quitting the political stage. like three million other city leoni and his chosen his successor i am happy. i am happy that's. done out in huge numbers and the process is this the end of the day the best man will emerge and will continue supporting the new president there's been much enthusiasm for this election voters started queuing accent just before dawn to choose a new president legislators and municipal officials my region is ninety four years old and was among

now african leaders are launching what they hope will be the world's largest free trade area rwandan president paul kagame is hosting a summit in the capital could gali the continental free trade agreement had hoped include all the countries in africa and more than a billion people but nigeria the continent's most populous country has pulled out ahead of the deal signing on the wednesday. the white house says donald trump is logged considering firing u.s. special counsel robert muller and follows a series of tweets from the president which criticized the investigation into russian meddling in the two thousand and sixteen election last week when a subpoena the trying to organize ation to turn over documents including some related to russia house speaker paul ryan has given assurances that trump will log file. look first of all the special counsel should be free to follow through his investigation to its completion without interference absolutely i am confident that he'll be able to do that i received assurances that his firing is not even under consideration. we have a system based upon the rule of law in this country we have a justice system and no one is above the

african union member states forty four signed the agreement in kigali rwanda to create the african continental free trade area. continental market o one point tth a combined grs domeic product of over three point four trillion dollars. states must now ratify the deal before it goes into affect the goal to have it up and running a year and one in president paul kigami held the deal calling it a win for all africans. although free trade. and free movement. is perspective. r our freedoms. because. we are. using the production of a value added to goods. and service. that are. manage. enough. let's take a look at some more of the day's top business headlines now. british unemployment is at its lowest point in thirty years official data released wednesday says wage growth in the uk is catching up with overall inflation at two point six percent for the final three months of the year. that is helping to push the pound back about one dollar forty cents as it recovers from a break this on. ten sent more than doubled its profits in twenty six seven seventeen rather to the equivalent of over three point f