African Union chief Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. She termed the move a
“steady step toward the objective of creating a strong, prosperous and
integrated Africa.” PHOTO | AFP
By Annie Njanja
In Summary
The African Union (AU) is set to launch an electronic
passport (e-passport) in the next two weeks in part of measures to boost
movement of people across the continent.
The e-passport, to be launched during the African Union’s 27th
Summit which kicks off in Rwanda from July 10, is part of efforts to
boost intra-regional trade.
The AU, however, says member countries will have to adopt and
ratify necessary protocols and laws to prepare the way for use of the
passport.
Heads of state and government, ministers of foreign affairs and
the permanent representatives of AU member states based at the
headquarters in Addis Ababa will be the first group to get the
e-passports during the summit.
Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, the chairperson of the African Union
Commission (AUC), termed the move a “steady step toward the objective of
creating a strong, prosperous and integrated Africa.”
The Rwanda summit will talk about Africa’s integration and the introduction of a common passport.
Countries like the Seychelles, Mauritius, Rwanda, and Ghana have
taken the lead in ensuring easier intra-Africa travel by relaxing visa
restrictions and in some cases lifting visa requirements altogether.
The East Africa Community in March launched an the document. A
phase out programme for the current East African and national passports
will go on for two years staring January next year.
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