African Union Unveils E-passport In Kigali

…Heralding Visa-Free Continent

 

L-R:President of Rwanda Paul Kagame,Idriss Deby, President of the Republic of Chad and Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma at the  ongoing AU Summit in Kigali.                        (Photo source:AU)                                                                                     

The dream of visa-free Africa for Africa citizens is becoming a reality as African leaders gathered at Rwanda's capital Kigali for their biannual meeting with the launch of the continent's first-ever African e-passport.

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma announced the launch and presented the first two e-passports to rotating AU chairperson Idriss Deby, President of the Republic of Chad, and President of Rwanda Paul Kagame at the opening ceremony of the 27th ordinary session of the AU Heads of States.

A statement by AU before the commencement of ongoing summit stated that, “ the flagship project, first agreed upon in 2014, falls squarely within the framework of Africa’s Agenda 2063 and has the specific aim of facilitating free movement of persons, goods and services around the continent - in order to foster intra-Africa trade, integration and socio-economic development.”

According to AU, the first group of beneficiaries of the e-passport will include AU heads of state and government; ministers of foreign affairs; and permanent representatives of AU member states based at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa.