The African Union is urging the members states to expeditiously ratify the African protocol on the free movement of persons. The protocol signed in 2017 was envisioned to aid the successful implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area. However till date very few Countries Have signed. On addressing the Biashara Africa summit in Kigali Rwanda, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission urged parties to the protocol to domesticate the framework.
In spite of being a twin instrument to the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, the African Union’s protocol on Free Movement of people has gained a low moment having only four countries who have ratified the framework
“The African Union Protocol on free movement of persons was also signed here, a twin instrument to the AfCFTA but it has not gained the same momentum though 33 member states have signed the protocol today about a year today in 2017 only 4 have ratified it which is 15 less than 15 we need for the protocol to enter into force. This forum therefore uniting government, business and society should address structural challenges that limit intra- Africa trade, free movement of persons being chief amongst them”
Monique Nsanzabaganwa, Deputy Chairperson, African Union – Rwanda
In his opening remarks at the Biashara Africa Summit, Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area, Wamkele Mene, although the prevailing challenge continue to negatively impact the AfCFTA, his outfit is unwavering in getting countries to increase Intra-Africa trade.
“We still have a lot of work to do. We remain under no illusion as a secretariat of the challenges that lie ahead. The cost of trade finance continues to be prohibitively high excluding millions from the market, the infrastructure deficit continues to constrained enhance trade flow we continue to be in a position of over reliance on imports of pharmaceuticals and in this regard we have committed with the Africa CDC to tackle this challenge, the cost of transport and logistics continue to have a negative impact on trade and of course the lack of progress to achieving free movement of persons from Africa, these are some of the challenges that shall lie ahead, but as I said before we should not allow the magnitude of the challenges to define our challenges to achieve a better Africa.”
Wamkele Mene, Secretary General, AfCFTA, South Africa
The African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat is hopeful that the Biashara Africa Summit which is underway in Kigali Rwanda will end with more commitment to scale up Intra-African Trade which currently stands at 15 percent of the continent’s total trade.