The African Passport and Free Movement of People
Progress
25%Aim
The African Passport and Free Movement of People Protocol will allow any African citizen to enter, reside, and work across the continent without a visa, fulfilling the Pan-African vision of a borderless Africa and enabling labour mobility to drive economic integration.
Progress to date
32 AU member states have signed the Protocol as of 2025, but only 4 have ratified it, against the 15 required for entry into force. The AU convened a dedicated coordination meeting in Accra in July 2025 to accelerate the ratification process. Several states already issue visas on arrival to all African nationals as an interim measure.
Challenges
Security concerns, irregular migration fears, and political resistance from states that view open borders as an economic or sovereignty risk have stalled ratification in the majority of AU members.
Next steps
The AU Commission is targeting 15 ratifications by 2027 through a country-by-country diplomatic push, while promoting sub-regional free movement protocols as interim building blocks.