AU to Launch Single African Passports for Africans Next Month

The African Union (AU) has revealed plans to launch a single African passport in a move aimed at allowing free movement of people within the continent.

African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki says details of the passport's design, production and issuance will be given during the 32nd AU Summit in February 2019.

The move also aims at unifying the continent, empowering countries that have weak passports and creating a seamless border in the continent, which will, in turn, promote trade.

The single African travel document will be welcome news to citizens from countries such as South Sudan and Burundi, who require a Visa to visit 48 and 47 nations in Africa respectively. Currently, only Seychelles and Benin offer Visa-free travel to all African countries.

The single African passport, which has high-security features, was first introduced in 2016  and has only been exclusive to heads of states and diplomats.