The Africa Union (AU) Free Movement of Persons (FMP) Protocol, adopted in 2018 is aimed at “the codification of the commitment to free movement made by African countries in declaring the establishment of the African Economic Community in Abuja in 1991 to remove all restrictions to the free movement of persons, labour, and services to provide for the right of establishment and right of residence”.
Over six years after the adoption, only Rwanda, Niger, Sao Tome and Principe, and Mali have reportedly ratified it. Although about 10 other countries reportedly allow much more flexible visa procedures at their points of entry even when they have not officially ratified the FMP protocol.
The ratification and implementation of the AU FMP Protocol is expected to play important role towards the effective implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
What are the fears and or challenges related to the effective implementation of the AU FMP protocol?
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We believe the benefits of the treaty protocol on the free movement of persons in Africa far outweigh whatever fears member states may be concerned about. The non-ratification and implementation of FMP protocol, would not only hinder labour mobility, cross-border free movement and protection of migrant workers, but also constitute serious barriers for the AfCFTA initiative.
AfCFTA allows goods to move, but goods cannot move by themselves, people have to move them. Thus, labour mobility is very important for Africa as the continent has a very huge youth population that needs to find work whether within or across their borders in the continent and beyond.
The visa challenge that many Africans face across different countries in the continent remains a problem that must be addressed as Africa grapples with regional integration and development.
Ironically, the issue of problematic visa regime and or procedures manifested recently in Addis Ababa Ethiopia when many Africans gathered to discuss migration governance under the auspices of the Second Regional Review Meeting on the Implementation of Global Compact of Migration (GCM) in Africa as two participants from Sierra Leona experienced delay in their visa approval thereby spending prolonged hours (more 24 hours) at the Bole International Airport.
Africans should not be denied access at entry points in any other Africa country especially when they have a legitimacy reason to cross the border. Where authorization is however denied, it should not be out of place to refund the visa fees as difficult entry procedures remain a persistent challenge.
There is a need for the African Union Commission (AUC) to re-strategise in ensuring its protocols are fully ratified and implemented by member states. More specifically, there is a need for the AUC to popularise and or publicise the FMP protocol and collaborate with civil society to champion the removal of barriers to cross-border mobility in Africa.
It is also important that Nigeria, as a GCM champion country, with concentric integration credentials at the sub-regional, regional and global levels, should ratify the AU-FMP protocol given the growing japa phenomenon in the country.
Tunde Salman, Team Lead and Convener, Good Governance Team (GGT) Nigeria, Abuja
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