Top AU diplomats to receive first 'African passport' in July

The 27th African Union summit that will be held in Rwanda’s capital, Kigali in July will mark the launch of the African passport, AU has said.

According to the African Union Commission Chairperson, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the advent of the African passport will facilitate the movement of people and goods for the social and economic integration of the continent.

“The African passport will build on the success achieved by the trading blocs and help to achieve the dream of free movement of Africans across the continent,” Dr Dlamini-Zuma said.

.LMushikiwabo: #AUKigali2016 will be the 27th AU Summit & will see tha launch of the #Africa-n passport to promote #FreeMovement of people

— Government of Rwanda (RwandaGov) June 7, 2016

The first beneficiaries will be the heads of state and government, foreign ministers and permanent representatives of the Member States of the AU at its headquarters in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.

The AU has been pushing for the introduction of the passport as part of the bloc’s 2063 Agenda and which will see the continent become border-less.

A number of unions across the world have abolished passports. For example, the border-free Schengen Area (a creation of the Schengen Agreement), where 26 European countries (22 of the 28 European Union (EU) member states) have abolished passports and other border controls. The member states have a common visa policy, which facilitates the free movement of people.