The purpose of the African Union protocol on the free movement of individuals adopted in 2018 is to give the Africans the right to the Welin the Block to live and work anywhere. It was to supplement and operate in 2021, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) launched in 2019.
But only four countries – Mali, Niger, Rwanda and Sao Tome and Principal have confirmed the free movement protocol. Thirty -two other countries have signed the protocol, but it requires at least 15 perfect support to be implemented.
The African Union (AU) officials are concerned about the slow pace of objective support and the implications for trade on the continent.
“We know that without the free movement of individuals of goods and services, the ideals of AFCFTA will not be achieved,” said Amma Adoma Twum-Amoa, AU Commissioner for Health, Humanitraian Affairs and Social Development.
“If they are not able to move freely, ton trading will become an issue,” he told DW.
So many countries have not finalized the free movement
Security concerns are at the top of the list of reasons where the African nation is reluctant to confirm the protocol.
“One of the things they [African countries] The mention is usually about safety. If you open boundaries, people do not come in and terrorize and such things? “Hardy Yakub, the African movement coordinator, for the NGO, who advocated pan-Africanism, told DW.
Twam-Aamoa echoed the feeling, accepting that “for most member states, this is protection.”
Margaret waist, a Kenai Senator and member of the PAN-African Parliament (PAP) of the Legislature of the African Union, said that there is another shortage of harmonious border systems.
“Everyone has little apprehension about security systems,” he said.
“At the boundary point, we realized that we have not reconciled the system.
So the issue of revenue. Many African governments rely on income generated by visa application fee. A visa-free governance, they are afraid, financial loss may mean.
But tone-amoh disagrees. “The idea of losing money, I don’t really take membership of it.”
Rwanda: A model for the continent
The Rwanda Protocol is a leg hero as a success story after its objective support. The East African nation has integrated the IT border systems to track the entries efficiently – whether by land or wind.
“Rwanda has completed her system. Whether you enter Rwanda through a bus or through the airport, they can track you. So, we found that we can learn from some countries,” Kamar said.
In terms of losing revenue from visa-free policy, Qamar Rwanda warned against such fears.
“Rwanda is a very good example where he increased the number of tourists and earned more than his expense within the country than $ 200 [$173]They must be chasing, looking for a visa, “He said.
Peer-to-Pier Learning: A new strategy
To address the slow pace of objective support, AU has initiated a colleague-to-learning initiative to promote dialogue between nations to address the best practice and mutual concerns related to free movement.
The first session was held at Akra, Ghana, more planned earlier this month.
Twam-Aamoa said that “We need to teach them [countries] Know that “there are solutions.
“We come with some conclusions and one is to make sure that the members are all on the same page, exchange ideas so that we can pursue this protocol,” he said.
Twam-Amaoa said that solutions can be found for the challenges identified by the member countries. “Such methods and mean we can do it, if we all work together.”
Kamar remains hopeful. “We felt that most challenges are actually the same among most partner countries,” he said, saying that all African country would need to sell this idea, the importance of confirming the protocol would be emphasized.
“You may not have an African continental free trade area without the free movement of people,” he said, because people should move forward with their goods, “he concluded.
“So, we cannot say that we are going to trade independently. If you are not moving forward. The movement of people should be with them.”
Edited by: Keith Walker
