Free movement of people, catalyst for trade in Africa: ECA

Addis Ababa, March 30, 2023 (FBC) – African countries should promote the free movement of people across their borders to boost intra-African trade, says the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), calling for the speedy ratification of the Protocol on free movement of people.

According to ECA, the Experts’ Group Meeting held to Review the Policy Report on the theme: “The Free Movement of Persons for Trade: Towards an Accelerated Ratification of the AU Free Movement of Persons Protocol in Support of the implementation of the AfCFTA” in Nairobi, Kenya.

ECA added that the two-day Experts’ Group Meeting reviewed the policy report, an outcome of a joint study by the African Union Commission (AUC) and Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

The study showed the benefits of the free movement of persons for the implementation of the AfCFTA and identified factors behind the slow ratification of the Protocol.

Furthermore, the study recommended spirited advocacy and sensitization campaigns targeting member states and civil society to initiate domestic processes for ratifying the Protocol.

The Free Movement of Persons Protocol is part of the treaty establishing the African Economic Community, ECA has stated.

It added that the protocol has been recognized as a tool to facilitate labour and skills mobility in accelerating trade in Africa.

It is stated that the African Union, recognizing the importance of human resource skills to the continent’s development, adopted the Free Movement of Persons Protocol in 2018, which has been signed by 33 Member States. However, only four countries have ratified the Protocol to date.