Resulting in the passing of a Free Movement of Persons protocol at the AU summit in January 2018 that has thus far been signed by 32 Member States. IOM in collaboration with the AU has commissioned a Study titled the Benefits and Challenges of Free Movement of Persons in Africa.

The study demonstrates how intra-African free movement of persons, if well managed, can bring about significant benefits to the continent, thereby positively impacting Africa’s development prospects. It proceeds to outline recommendations for AU Member States, AU/RECs, civil society, and media for a gradual approach to implementation of the protocol. The study also notes that while many African countries still lack sufficient enablers to create and manage free movement, this need not be an impediment to progressing the free movement agenda, and advocates that a phased approach may well be the way to go on this taking account of African Member States’ different stages of socio-economic development. Comparing practices and lessons from other parts of world and how the African Union RECs are facilitating free movement of persons in Africa, the study  provides an analysis of the possible policy implications of enabling free movement of persons, and offers practical recommendations on how to move the  free movement agenda forward. It concludes by offering guidelines for AU Member States on how to progress the free movement agenda, while taking account of the hurdles and the fears that the notion of free movement provokes in some quarters.

The Study on Benefits and Challenges of Free Movement of Persons

Officially launched on Monday 23rd July, 2018 at the African Union Commission

Full pdf file of the study is available here.