Black Excellence
The African Passport Introduction !
By Tahirah Wiley
African Union Passport
The African Union is considering launching a passport that will grant visa-free access to all 54 member states . The union aims to distribute them to all African citizens by 2018- 2020 . One of the passports issued by the African Union for officials and people who travel a lot on business , and the other by individual countries for everyone else . Many hope that the e-passports are the first steps to mobility for Africans on the continent . It is also hoped to boost trade economic growth opportunities .
The first batches of passports , which are electronic , were unveiled at the AU summit in Kigali , Rwanda . They were issued to heads of state and senior officials at that time . The first recipients were chairperson of the African Union Idris Deby and Rwandan President Paul Kagame . “ We ’ ve been overwhelmed by requests and enquiries of other ministers , officials , and African citizens to share in this privilege of holding an African passport ,” Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma , chairperson of the African Union Commission says , according to The New Times .
The question still remains whether this will make it easier for travel among Africans . Many countries have more flights to London or Paris than with other countries on the continent . For example , there are very few flights between Abuja and Dakar - two major West African capitals - and passengers sometimes have to travel via Nairobi or Addis Ababa in East Africa , or even Europe . Also , millions of Africans are undocumented , and simply won ’ t be able to get a passport . This is a result of many issues in the countries themselves , including civil unrest , and nomadic lives .
There are strict visa requirements and high-priced airfare still remain as obstacles for the African Union to realize its vision for “ a strong , prosperous and integrated Africa ,” though countries such as Seychelles , Mauritius , Rwanda , and Ghana have taken lead in easing their visa requirements . Only 13 African states are currently open to all African citizens .
Visual Hut
Moovn Uber out of the Way
African Union
15