The African Union is urging member states to ratify the African Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons. Signed in 2018, the protocol was designed to help the successful implementation of the agreement on the African Continental Free Trade Area, the AfCFTA. However, to date, very few countries have signed and ratified it, and experts are concerned about the effective implementation of the AfCFTA if citizens of individual states cannot move freely across the continent.
In 2018 in Kigali, the African Union protocol on the free movement of people was signed by 33 African countries. Nevertheless, the protocol considered the twin of the agreement on the African Continental Free Trade Area, the AfCFTA, has not progressed as well, as to date only four countries have ratified it. And for it to come into force, at least fifteen are required.
I congratulate Rwanda and the leadership of president Paul Kagame for Rwanda is among the four countries which have ratified the protocol. Others are Niger, Mali and Sao Tome and Principe.
Monique NSANZABAGANWA, Vice-President of the AU Commission
Although current difficulties continue to have a negative impact on the African Continental Free Trade Area, officials say its organization is unwavering in its commitment to encouraging countries to increase intra-African trade.
One of the key things we are discussing is that, you know we are talking about domestication and ratification of the African Union free movement protocol and so, the report is clearly saying why is it a slow pace? And we are wondering why, compared to the movement of goods and services. Something which is very worrying, because as Africans we want goods and services to move but we don’t want the people who are moving the goods to move, which is very ironic. But, I also know that countries have peculiar challenges; some of us have fears and those are the things that make us come here.
Agnes IGOYE, Regional Migration Expert at IGAD
But what needs to be done to move forward and get the protocol on the free movement of people in Africa ratified? What is actually preventing countries from making up their minds?
Today, it’s a question of lobbying the key players in each member state to move forward with ratification. Better still, we need to make the RCs responsible for implementing the protocol, and to maintain regular contact with them. They must agree to implement the protocol and ratify it through the principles of subsidiarity, so that they can go directly to the member states to lobby for ratification of the protocol.
Ismaila DANGOU, Migration Program Officer, ECOWAS
The rationale behind the protocol is clear: the free movement of people – as well as goods and services – will promote integration and bring a whole range of other benefits. Like improving science, technology, education and research, and encouraging tourism.
It could also facilitate intra-African trade and investment, increase remittances to the continent, promote labor mobility, create jobs and improve living standards.
