Decision on the Free Movement of Persons and the African Passport

DECISION ON FREE MOVEMENT OF PERSONS
AND THE AFRICAN PASSPORT

1. TAKES NOTE of the progress made towards ensuring free movement of persons as well as goods and services in Africa as a crucial element for deepening continental integration and unity in the spirit of Pan-Africanism, African Renaissance and realization of Agenda 2063;

2. RECALLS Decision EX.CL/Dec.908(XXVIII) adopted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in January 2016 which mandated the Commission to develop the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons in Africa, as envisioned in the 1981 African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the 1991 Treaty establishing the African Economic Community (Abuja Treaty), and to move ahead with the launching of the African Passport;

3. WELCOMES the launch of the African Passport during this 27^th Ordinary Session in Kigali, Rwanda in July 2016;

4. NOTES WITH APPRECIATION the efforts of the Commission to carry out this important initiative and REITERATES its support to the efforts of the Commission to issue the African Passport;

5. CALLS ON other countries and regions of the world to recognize the African Passport issued by the Commission and the AU Member States as a valid travel document;

6. URGES:

1. all Member States to adopt the African Passport and to work closely with the AU Commission to facilitate the processes towards its issuance at the national level based on international, continental and national policy provisions, and continental design and specifications;

7. REQUESTS the Commission to:

1. Provide technical support to Member States to enable them to produce and issue the African Passport to their citizens;

2. Put in place an implementation roadmap for the development of a Protocol on Free Movement of Persons in Africa by January 2018, which should come into effect immediately in Member States upon its adoption.