Home/Doing business in Africa
For businesses and investors
Doing business in Africa, country by country
Official bodies, treaty status, currencies and trade blocs for all 54 countries – plus law firms that list corporate, tax and employment work.
The short answer
Each of Africa’s 54 countries has its own company registry, tax authority, investment agency and rules on permits and foreign exchange. Pick a country below for its official bodies (254 links, each checked as the body’s own website), its treaty status and law firms that list business work.
All 54 countries
Pick a country
| Country | Currency | Regional blocs | New York Conv. | ICSID | Apostille |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Algeria | DZD | Arab Maghreb Union | Yes (1989) | Yes (1996) | Yes (2026) |
| Angola | AOA | SADC, ECCAS | Yes (2017) | Yes (2022) | No |
| Benin | XOF | ECOWAS, UEMOA (WAEMU) | Yes (1974) | Yes (1966) | No |
| Botswana | BWP | SADC | Yes (1972) | Yes (1970) | Yes (1966) |
| Burkina Faso | XOF | UEMOA (WAEMU), Confederation of Sahel States (AES) | Yes (1987) | Yes (1966) | No |
| Burundi | BIF | East African Community, COMESA, ECCAS | Yes (2014) | Yes (1969) | Yes (2015) |
| Cabo Verde | CVE | ECOWAS | Yes (2018) | Yes (2011) | Yes (2010) |
| Cameroon | XAF | ECCAS, CEMAC | Yes (1988) | Yes (1967) | No |
| Central African Republic | XAF | ECCAS, CEMAC | Yes (1963) | Yes (1966) | No |
| Chad | XAF | ECCAS, CEMAC | No | Yes (1966) | No |
| Comoros | KMF | SADC, COMESA | Yes (2015) | Yes (1978) | No |
| Congo | XAF | ECCAS, CEMAC | No | Yes (1966) | No |
| Cote d'Ivoire | XOF | ECOWAS, UEMOA (WAEMU) | Yes (1991) | Yes (1966) | No |
| Djibouti | DJF | COMESA, IGAD | Yes (1977) | Yes (2020) | No |
| DR Congo | CDF | East African Community, SADC, COMESA, ECCAS | Yes (2015) | Yes (1970) | No |
| Egypt | EGP | COMESA | Yes (1959) | Yes (1972) | No |
| Equatorial Guinea | XAF | ECCAS, CEMAC | No | Yes (2024) | No |
| Eritrea | ERN | COMESA | No | No | No |
| Eswatini | SZL | SADC, COMESA | No | Yes (1971) | Yes (1968) |
| Ethiopia | ETB | COMESA, IGAD | Yes (2020) | Signed (1965) | No |
| Gabon | XAF | ECCAS, CEMAC | Yes (2007) | Yes (1966) | No |
| Ghana | GHS | ECOWAS | Yes (1968) | Yes (1966) | No |
| Guinea | GNF | ECOWAS | Yes (1991) | Yes (1968) | No |
| Guinea-Bissau | XOF | ECOWAS, UEMOA (WAEMU) | No | Signed (1991) | No |
| Kenya | KES | East African Community, COMESA, IGAD | Yes (1989) | Yes (1967) | No |
| Lesotho | LSL | SADC | Yes (1989) | Yes (1969) | Yes (1966) |
| Liberia | LRD | ECOWAS | Yes (2005) | Yes (1970) | Yes (1996) |
| Libya | LYD | COMESA, Arab Maghreb Union | No | No | No |
| Madagascar | MGA | SADC, COMESA | Yes (1962) | Yes (1966) | No |
| Malawi | MWK | SADC, COMESA | Yes (2021) | Yes (1966) | Yes (1967) |
| Mali | XOF | UEMOA (WAEMU), Confederation of Sahel States (AES) | Yes (1994) | Yes (1978) | No |
| Mauritania | MRU | Arab Maghreb Union | Yes (1997) | Yes (1966) | No |
| Mauritius | MUR | SADC, COMESA | Yes (1996) | Yes (1969) | Yes (1968) |
| Morocco | MAD | Arab Maghreb Union | Yes (1959) | Yes (1967) | Yes (2016) |
| Mozambique | MZN | SADC | Yes (1998) | Yes (1995) | No |
| Namibia | NAD | SADC | No | Signed (1998) | Yes (2001) |
| Niger | XOF | UEMOA (WAEMU), Confederation of Sahel States (AES) | Yes (1965) | Yes (1966) | No |
| Nigeria | NGN | ECOWAS | Yes (1970) | Yes (1966) | No |
| Rwanda | RWF | East African Community, COMESA | Yes (2009) | Yes (1979) | Yes (2024) |
| Sao Tome and Principe | STN | ECCAS | Yes (2013) | Yes (2013) | Yes (2008) |
| Senegal | XOF | ECOWAS, UEMOA (WAEMU) | Yes (1995) | Yes (1967) | Yes (2023) |
| Seychelles | SCR | SADC, COMESA | Yes (2020) | Yes (1978) | Yes (1979) |
| Sierra Leone | SLE | ECOWAS | Yes (2021) | Yes (1966) | No |
| Somalia | SOS | East African Community, COMESA, IGAD | No | Yes (1968) | No |
| South Africa | ZAR | SADC | Yes (1976) | No | Yes (1995) |
| South Sudan | SSP | East African Community, IGAD | No | Yes (2012) | No |
| Sudan | SDG | COMESA, IGAD | Yes (2018) | Yes (1973) | No |
| Tanzania | TZS | East African Community, SADC | Yes (1965) | Yes (1992) | No |
| The Gambia | GMD | ECOWAS | No | Yes (1975) | No |
| Togo | XOF | ECOWAS, UEMOA (WAEMU) | No | Yes (1967) | No |
| Tunisia | TND | COMESA, Arab Maghreb Union | Yes (1967) | Yes (1966) | Yes (2018) |
| Uganda | UGX | East African Community, COMESA, IGAD | Yes (1992) | Yes (1966) | No |
| Zambia | ZMW | SADC, COMESA | Yes (2002) | Yes (1970) | No |
| Zimbabwe | ZWG | SADC, COMESA | Yes (1994) | Yes (1994) | No |
Year = entry into force. Sources: UNCITRAL (New York Convention), ICSID, HCCH (Apostille), the blocs’ own websites – checked October 2026. Not legal advice.
Guides
Cross-border guides
Arbitration in AfricaNew York Convention and ICSID status for all 54 countriesApostille and legalizationWhich countries accept apostilles, and what the others needOHADA business lawThe shared business law of 17 countriesAfrican trade blocsECOWAS, EAC, SADC, COMESA, the CFA zones and moreLegal glossaryAdvocate, avocat, notaire, huissier and 40 more termsHiring a lawyer in AfricaQuestions to ask before you instruct a firm