AU Plans To Introduce Single Passport
African Union plans to introduce single passport to create EU-style ‘continent without borders’ for allowing free movement between countries. The idea from the African Union has been modeled on the controversial EU Schengen free movement deal, which has abolished many internal borders to enable passport-free movement across the bloc.
Thirteen (13) African countries already have visa-free deals in place with each other. These allow citizens to visit another country without a visa, or offer them visas on arrival. In comparison, Americans are able to travel to 20 of the continent’s countries without a visa, or a secure visa on arrival.
The African Union (AU),reportedly wants to abolish the need for Africans visiting African countries to require a visa by 2018 also to establish a free trade deal across the continent by 2017, as intra-African trade costs more than any other region.
It is said that the heads of state from across Africa will be the first to pilot the new electronic African Union passport, ahead of the African Union Summit in Rwanda in July. In the AU statement the specific aim of the passport is to facilitate free movement of people, goods and services around the continent in order to foster intra-Africa trade, integration and socio-economic development.
Dr Nkosazana Dlaimini Zuma, the chairperson of the AU Commission, reportedly said the innovation was a steady step toward the objective of creating a strong, prosperous and integrated Africa, driven by its own citizens.
Opposing the plans, sceptics have suggested a borderless Africa would be challenging due to militant groups such as Boko Haram and public health crises including Ebola.
”It is up to all of us to hold our countries to that decision so that indeed Africans can move freely among other African countries,” Added Zuma.
