Abstract
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) seeks to expand intra-African trade and support regional value chain (RVC) development, yet its impact is constrained by the continued coexistence of multiple Regional Economic Communities (RECs), some with deeper and more established integration regimes. This parallel structure has created fragmented Rules of Origin (RoO) and certification systems, limiting firms' ability to move intermediate goods across REC boundaries and hindering the formation of continent-wide value chains. This paper examines how cross-cumulation can serve as a practical mechanism for bridging this fragmentation. By allowing originating inputs from different RECs to be mutually recognized under the AfCFTA, crosscumulation can facilitate the movement of intermediate goods across regions without requiring full harmonization of REC-level rules. The paper argues that while cross-cumulation is not a complete solution, it provides an important interim measure to promote inter-REC value chain linkages and lays the groundwork for longer-term convergence toward a unified continental RoO regime.