Members of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) have been called to raise awareness on the benefits of free movement across the continent, particularly in relation to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The appeal came from Rita Amukhobu, Head of the Humanitarian Affairs Division at the African Union Commission, during a session with the PAP Committee on Trade, Customs, and Immigration Matters.
Since the adoption of the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons in Africa in January 2018, only 32 countries have signed it, and just four—Rwanda, Niger, Mali, and São Tomé and Príncipe—have ratified it. Amukhobu noted that despite slow ratification, some nations have taken independent steps toward freer movement. West African countries lead in implementation, with 97% of intra-regional travel routes in ECOWAS being visa-free. Additionally, 24 African nations now offer e-visas, up from 2016, while 33 provide visa-free travel to citizens of at least ten other African nations.
Challenges remain, including political reluctance, security concerns, and economic uncertainty. Amukhobu cited policy inconsistencies within regional blocs, particularly in Southern and Northern Africa, as additional hurdles.
She urged PAP to advocate for broader adoption of the Protocol by engaging influential figures as Goodwill Ambassadors, conducting studies to address concerns, and pushing for policy alignment across African nations.
As part of its oversight duties, the PAP Committee on Trade, Customs, and Immigration Matters recently conducted a fact-finding mission in Tanzania from October 19 to 25. The delegation assessed Tanzania’s implementation of the AfCFTA’s Guided Trade Initiative (GTI) and visited the Namanga One Stop Border Post on the Tanzania-Kenya border. The committee also met with Tanzanian authorities to discuss the Free Movement Protocol and encourage its adoption.
