Resolution on the free movement of people in Africa and the African Passport

Jurisdiction
African Regional Bodies · African Union (AU)
Regional Body / Author
Pan-African Parliament
Date
18 May 2017
Language
Type
Resolution
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African Union

Resolution on the free movement of people in Africa and the African Passport

THE PAN-AFRICAN PARLIAMENT,CONSIDERING Article 17 of the Constitutive Act of the African Union, which establishes the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) to ensure the full participation of the people of Africa in the development and economic integration of the continent;CONSIDERING also Article 3 of the Protocol to the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community Relating to the Pan-African Parliament, and Rule 4 (a) of the Rules of Procedure of the Pan-African Parliament, which empower the PAP to facilitate the implementation of policies, objectives and programmes of the African Union and to oversee their effective implementation;CONSIDERING further Chapter VI of the Abuja Treaty, devoted to the Free Movement of Persons, Rights of Residence and Establishment;RECALLING its recommendations PAP.4/PL/Recom.02(III) adopted during the Third Ordinary Session of its Fourth Parliament held in October 2016 at Sharm El Sheikh, in Egypt;EMPHASIZING that the process of building one Africa involves integration of its peoples and the respective socio-economic and political sectors of African countries;MINDFUL that African integration cannot occur in an environment where movement of people and capital within the continent is restrictive;NOTING that Aspiration 2 of the Agenda 2063 foresees "an integrated continent, politically united and based on the ideals of Pan Africanism and the vision of Africa’s Renaissance" through free movement of people within Africa;NOTING also that Agenda 2063 further envisions the creation of an Africa where the free movement of persons, capital, goods and services will result in significant increase in intra-Africa trade and investments, giving rise to unprecedented levels and strengthening Africa’s place in global trade;ACKNOWLEDGING the tremendous milestones made by the African Union Commission towards attainment of free intra-Africa mobility and issuance of the AU Passport;IN ACCORDANCE WITH Rule 5(b), (c) and (d) of the Rules of Procedure of the Pan-African Parliament, which empowers the PAP to, inter alia, organize debate, discuss, express an opinion, make recommendations and take resolutions on the objectives and on any matters relating to the African Union and its organs, Regional Economic Communities, Member States and their organs and institutions;
NOW HEREBY RESOLVES TO:
1.Undertake awareness-raising initiatives for the popularization and demystification of the concept of "African Passport", to particularly allay the fears that some Member States may have in respect of free movement of persons within Africa might as a potential threat to their socio-economic and political well-being;
2.Initiate advocacy activities for the adoption and ratification of the draft Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, Right of Residence and Right of due for consideration in AU January 2018 Summit;
3.Set up a Mechanism for monitoring progress on, and coordinate domestic parliamentary oversight over, AU Member States’ signature, ratification and implementation of the the draft Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, Right of Residence and Right;
4.Develop a draft Model Law on free movement of people in Africa and the African Passport, working in close collaboration with the African Union Commission and other relevant AU Organs so as to entrench the aspirations of free mobility of persons in legislation.
Adopted at Midrand, South Africa 18 May 2017
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