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Antitrust / Competition

Africa: Competition in Africa Report 2024

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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.

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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.

Author

Sphesihle Nxumalo is a director designate in Baker McKenzie's Antitrust & Competition Practice Group in Johannesburg.
His experience spans the entire spectrum of antitrust and competition law across Africa.
Sphesihle has a wealth of experience partnering with clients and businesses to devise novel and business-oriented solutions to their merger control, antitrust and competition law needs and requirements. He advises and represents blue-chip multinational companies on high-value and complex antitrust matters and merger transactions that are highly technical and unique in nature across all key African countries.
His experience spans several industries including private equity, telecommunications, media, technology, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, financial institutions, automotive, industrials, petroleum, mining and construction.

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