The much anticipated COMESA Merger Assessment Guidelines (the
"Guidelines") were published by the
COMESA Competition Commission (the
"Commission") on 31 October 2014. The
Guidelines do not amend the COMESA Competition Regulations (the
"Regulations"), but bring some clarity
and greater certainty as regards the Commission's
interpretation and application of the Regulations. Overarchingly,
the Guidelines demonstrate the Commission's commitment to a
practical approach to the merger review process and to substantive
assessment principles in line with internationally accepted best
practice.
COMESA – the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa
– was established in order to facilitate the region's
sustained development through economic integration and is a free
trade area comprising 19 member states, including Burundi, Comoros,
Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia,
Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles,
Sudan,
