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President Deby

From Lloyd Gumbo in KIGALI, Rwanda
The African Union has finally launched the African passport as the continent forges ahead with its thrust of enhancing free movement of people, goods and services within the continent.

The first passports were issued to AU chairperson and Chad President Idriss Deby and host President Paul Kagame.

President Mugabe and other leaders who attended the 27th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government were expected to also get the passports during the summit.

Also read:

• AU to launch e-passport
• AU rolls out continental passport

Outgoing African Union Commission chairperson, Mrs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma described the launch of the passport as a sign that Africa was serious on the free movement of its people on the continent.

“At the Summit in January 2016 this year, you decided that we must launch the African Passport,” she said.

“We are making this start with our Heads of State and Government, with Foreign Ministers, the leadership of the RECs (Regional Economic Communities) and Organs.

“But, we have been overwhelmed by requests and enquiries of other Ministers, officials, and African citizens to share in this privilege of holding an African passport.

“We will therefore suggest to the summit for consideration, as we launch the African passport today (Sunday), that we agree to create the conditions for member states to issue the passport to their citizens, within their national policies, as and when they are ready.”

After receiving his new passport, President Derby said it was a great milestone that would unlock greater achievements on the continent.

He implored other Presidents to ensure ease operationalisation of the passport.

The African passport is a flagship project of the continent’s Agenda 2063.

It seeks to facilitate free movement of people, goods and services around the continent as a strategy to foster intra-Africa trade, integration and socio-economic development.

In his welcome remarks, President Kagame urged Africa to be united.

“The concept of unity is what anchors human diversity in the bedrock of universal values,” he said.

“Whenever we gather on the basis of what unites us, there is a peaceful solution to every problem. But when people meet as strangers, even small problems are hard to resolve. Belief in the healing power of unity is the defining virtue of African political culture. Indeed, in an increasingly divided world, by upholding this principle, Africa has a lot to offer.

“The unity of our continent, with an emphasis on integration among other things, should never be subject to preconditions or exceptions, because lasting solutions always involve everyone.”

President Kagame said Rwanda was good example of how unity was critical after the 1994 genocide. President Deby described the 0,2 levy imposed on all eligible imports in all AU member as great step.

“It is a gigantic step that we have taken, I would like to assure you. These aspirations cannot be fulfilled without an appropriate mechanism for funding of the union.

“I am happy that we have discussed this very essential issue and that a lasting solution to fund the organisation has been found.

“In the same vein and pending the operationalisation of the new funding mechanism, I want to stress the absolute need to reduce our dependency, our frustrating dependency even compromising the independence of the union, on external contributions.

“I also want to urge member states to pay up their statutory contributions even if our countries are facing difficult economic situations,” he said.