African leaders sign pact to create ’Cape to Cairo’ free trade bloc

African leaders have signed a agreement in Egypt to create a new free-trade zone stretching from Cairo to Cape Town. The Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) will include 26 countries - around half the continent’s total - uniting three existing trade blocs in eastern and southern Africa. It is hoped that reducing trade barriers will bring prices down and boost economic activity between African countries that has long suffered for several reasons including poor infrastructure.