Trade policies and tariffs heavily influence Africa’s economies, often with mixed effects. Countries like Nigeria and Ethiopia face inflation and smuggling due to high tariffs, while South Africa benefits from AGOA but faces EU trade barriers. Stable economies like Botswana, Rwanda, Kenya, and Namibia attract investment, unlike conflict-prone DRC and Zimbabwe. Economic diplomacy, including AfCFTA, aims to boost regional trade. We spoke to Africa analyst Advocate Sipho Mantul for insights.