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Africa: Competition in Africa Report 2022

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In brief

Baker McKenzie’s latest Africa Competition Report (“Report“) is a collaborative effort between Baker McKenzie’s Africa-focused Competition team and its Africa Relationship Firms. The Report covers a detailed analysis and overview of recent developments in competition law enforcement and competition policy in 32 African jurisdictions and regional bodies. It considers not only recent developments in competition law enforcement and competition policy in each of the highlighted jurisdictions but also provides an overview of regulatory and legislative dynamics and challenges in selected markets.

Key takeaways 

  • Competition authorities play an important role as champions, advocates and enforcers of competition policy across economies and view competition policy as a key driver of economic growth.
  • The Report outlines how 29 of the 32 surveyed African jurisdictions and regional bodies have national competition laws in place.
  • Countries where competition laws exist include Kenya, South Africa, Tunisia, Cote d’Ivoire, Tanzania, Egypt, Nigeria, and Rwanda.
  • Only two of the countries surveyed had no national competition laws, but are members of a regional competition law body – Ghana and Uganda.
  • Although over the past two years African competition regulators have actively engaged in efforts to address pandemic-related challenges, there has also been a general upward trend in competition policy enforcement across the continent.
  • The upward trend in competition enforcement is highlighted by a number of significant recent developments in competition law regulation around the continent.
  • African jurisdictions have strengthened their competition and antitrust regimes by way of amendments to existing legislation, the introduction of new laws and regulations, and renewed fervor and political will to enforce existing laws.
  • In the last year, there have been notable competition law developments in Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Cape Verde, COMESA, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Access all the latest competition law information in the 2022 edition of our Report, by downloading it here. 

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Author

Lerisha Naidu is the managing partner and head of Baker McKenzie's Antitrust & Competition Practice Group in Johannesburg. She acts on a diverse array of matters across various industries spanning several African jurisdictions.
Lerisha advises and represents international and domestic clients in mergers and acquisitions, prohibited practices (including cartel-related matters), and compliance and risk mitigation. She has appeared before the Competition Tribunal of South Africa in merger proceedings, and has also worked on matters relating to clients involved in Tribunal proceedings.
Lerisha has acted in several high-profile matters involving industry-wide and global cartels (eg. in the construction, aviation and gas industries), interim relief applications, contested mergers and dawn raids. She has also participated in a number of compliance initiatives, including training sessions for firms' employees related to competition risk mitigation.
Lerisha was named Southern Africa Partner of the Year at the African Legal Awards in 2023 - cited for the legal excellence, innovation and leadership that embodies her work. She was also acknowledged on the 2019 list of 100 Most Influential Young South Africans as well as the Mail & Guardian list of Top 200 Young South Africans, and was commended in the Partner of the Year Private Practice category at the African Legal Awards in 2021.
Lerisha also leads the Diversity and Inclusion portfolio in Johannesburg, as well as its pro bono and corporate social responsibility pillars.

Author

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

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