The African Union's Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, adopted in 2018, aims to allow free movement for Africans within member countries. While intended to align with the AfCFTA launched in 2019, only four countries have ratified the protocol, with 32 others signed but not ratified. The required 15 ratifications have not been achieved, raising concerns among AU officials about the impact on trade. Security issues and lack of harmonized border systems are major obstacles for countries reluctant to ratify the protocol.
"We know that without free movement of persons of goods and services, the ideals of AfCFTA would not be achieved," said Amma Adomaa Twum-Amoah, the AU's Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development.
"One of the things that they [African countries] usually mention is about security. If you open the borders won't people come in and terrorize and things like that?" Hardi Yakubu, movement coordinator of Africans Rising.
Margaret Kamar, a Kenyan senator, added that the lack of harmonized border systems is another hurdle. "At the border points, we realized that we have not harmonized the systems."
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