The vibrant city of Lagos provided a fitting backdrop for the 2nd IBA African Competition Law Conference, where leading legal minds, policymakers, and regulators particularly the Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), convened to explore the evolving terrain of competition law across the continent. The event was a dynamic convergence of ideas, debate, and visionary discourse, each session contributing to a clearer, more cohesive vision for Africa’s antitrust future.
Our firm was proudly represented by Managing Partner, Crispin Mwebesa, and Associate Monalisa Mushobozi, who actively engaged in forward-looking discussions on merger control, the impact of AI on antitrust enforcement, competition considerations under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), digital market regulation, and the push for regional harmonization. These rich engagements not only sharpened our strategic outlook but also fostered meaningful connections with enforcers, practitioners, and scholars across the region.
A key takeaway was the shifting role of competition law as it increasingly intersects with consumer protection. While these have traditionally been viewed as distinct mandates, there is growing recognition that a siloed approach no longer reflects market realities. The challenge? Ensuring that competition enforcement continues to protect consumers without compromising its economic rigor. A harmonized, outcome-oriented framework may be the path forward, one that balances technical analysis with social relevance.
Merger control also emerged as a focal point, particularly the growing prominence of public interest considerations in regulatory decisions. Employment preservation, local industrial capacity, and broader development goals are now central to merger assessments across several African jurisdictions. The consensus: public interest cannot be ignored but neither should it overshadow competition principles. Striking the right balance is essential, and African regulators must craft merger control frameworks that reflect both economic efficiency and socio-political realities.
In discussions on cartel enforcement, we were reminded that while leniency programs have historically been powerful tools, evolving market behaviours demand more sophisticated strategies. Data analytics, digital monitoring, and stronger whistleblower protections are gaining traction. But without sustained institutional support, even these tools risk falling short. Enforcement strength remains the linchpin of effective deterrence.
The conversation on digital markets and artificial intelligence stood out as a call to action. The rise of algorithmic collusion, AI-powered mergers, and tech monopolies presents unprecedented challenges. Regulators must now grapple not only with how AI distorts competition, but also how they can leverage AI themselves to enhance enforcement. The message was clear: the digital economy demands a new regulatory imagination, one that is agile, anticipatory, and technologically literate.
Finally, the AfCFTA continues to offer a bold vision for a continent-wide competition regime. While recent strides like regional memoranda and collaboration frameworks show promise, challenges around national sovereignty, legal fragmentation, and institutional capacity persist. Still, the momentum is undeniable. AfCFTA, when fully realized, will not only unify markets but also align regulatory ambition across the continent.
The event was a testament to Africa’s dynamic role in shaping global competition discourse. The kind that makes you rethink what it means to practice competition law on a continent as diverse and dynamic as Africa. The issues, public interest in mergers, AI’s silent hand in market behavior, cartel detection are not theoretical. They are unfolding now, in boardrooms and enforcement offices across the region. The challenge is not just catching up to these shifts; it is being part of shaping them, and that is the real takeaway. For our team, the lessons were clear: agility, collaboration, and a willingness to rethink tradition will define the next era of antitrust in Africa.