African Union to launch e-passport at the 27th African Union Summit
In two weeks’ time, the African Union (AU) will be launching an electronic passport as part of measures to boost movement of people across the continent.
The e-passport, will be launched during the African Union’s 27th Summit which is kicks off in Rwanda on July 10.
Member countries of the African Union will have to adopt necessary protocols and laws to prepare the way for use of the passport.
Heads of state and government, ministers of foreign affairs and the permanent representatives of AU member states based at the headquarters in Addis Ababa will be the first group to get the e-passports during the summit.
Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, the chairperson of the African Union Commission said that this is a steady step toward the objective of creating a strong, prosperous and integrated Africa.
Countries like the Seychelles, Mauritius, Rwanda, and Ghana have taken the lead in ensuring easier intra-Africa travel by relaxing visa restrictions and in some cases lifting visa requirements altogether.
