Official urges action on free movement of people in Africa

Kigali, Oct 17 (IANS) Africa needs to fast-track the adoption of key policies and legal frameworks to facilitate free movement of migrants in the continent, Khabele Matlosa, Director of the Department of Political Affairs of the African Union Commission, said.

Speaking at a meeting here on Monday on procedure of the African Union (AU) on migration, refugees and internally displaced persons, Matlosa explained that protocols would facilitate the use of African passport, visa-free Africa, free trade area, meant to ease integration across the continent, Xinhua reported.

The meeting attracted over 200 participants, including ministers and experts in the areas of migration, refugees and forced displacement, from across Africa.

The meeting is meant to consider and discuss adopting the Protocol to the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community relating to Free Movement of Persons, Right of residence and Right of establishment.

The meeting will also consider and discuss adopting Implementation Mechanism, the Revised AU Migration Policy Framework for Africa, and Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, according to a concept note.

Management of migration has become one of the critical challenges facing the AU member states with growing number of migrants, said AU's Social Affairs Department Director Olawale Maiyegun.

The outcomes of the meeting will feed into a meeting of African ministers in charge of migration due to be held on Friday in Kigali.

Reports indicate that over 80 per cent of the African migrants remain on the continent, calling for strengthening of policies and measures to ensure orderly movements.

The AU is expected to launch the effective implementation of the protocol on free movement of persons, right of residence and right of establishment in 2018.

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