Get Guardian on GoogleThe Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has expressed concern over the slow adoption and ratification of the African Union Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, warning that the situation could undermine efforts to deepen continental integration.
The concern was raised during a meeting of permanent representations of regional economic communities (RECs) to the African Union and the AU Partner Embassies Group in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The meeting brought together regional bodies and diplomatic representatives to strengthen cooperation and review issues of common interest, including progress on the African Union’s integration agenda.
According to a statement issued by ECOWAS on Monday, the bloc’s Permanent Representative to the AU highlighted the progress made within West Africa, particularly in facilitating the free movement of persons.
However, the regional organisation drew attention to what it described as low adherence and insufficient ratification of the continental protocol on free movement, identifying the situation as a major obstacle to the wider integration agenda.
The African Union Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, Right of Residence and Right of Establishment is intended to establish a continent-wide framework for the movement of African citizens across national borders, as well as their right to reside and establish businesses in other member states.
Its implementation is expected to complement existing regional arrangements, including ECOWAS’s longstanding free movement framework, by extending mobility rights across the continent.
The discussions also examined institutional cooperation between the African Union and regional economic communities, as well as priorities under the current leadership of the AU.
The Burundian Presidency presented a mid-term review of its activities, highlighting progress on the African Water and Sanitation Policy, an implementation framework for translating security and humanitarian early warnings into concrete action, and initiatives focused on women’s empowerment and youth inclusion.
The partner embassies commended the exchanges and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening coordination between the African Union and regional economic communities in pursuit of the objectives of Agenda 2063.
The concern over the free movement protocol comes amid wider efforts to remove barriers to movement, trade and economic opportunities across Africa.
Although regional arrangements have provided a foundation for cross-border mobility in parts of the continent, extending such cooperation to the continental level requires stronger political commitment and the adoption and implementation of common legal frameworks.
ECOWAS’s intervention at the meeting underscores the need for closer cooperation between the African Union and regional blocs to translate the continent’s integration ambitions into practical benefits for citizens.
