Deby, Kagame get first copies at launch of African passport

The African passport was finally launched yesterday and the first two copies issued at the 27th African Union (AU) summit in the Rwandan capital, Kigali.

Outgoing Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Dr. Dlamini-Zuma, issued the first two copies to Chairperson of the AU and Chadian president, Idris Deby and his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame. The document has five languages used for inscriptions on it – English, French, Arabic, Portuguese and Swahili.

“But, we’ve been overwhelmed by requests, and enquiries of other ministers, officials, and Africans citizens to share in this privilege of holding an African passport.

The African Union’s logo is sandwiched between two sets of inscriptions”, she said.

‘‘African Union” is translated into the other four languages at the top and below the logo, ‘‘Diplomatic Passport’‘ with corresponding translations.

According to Dr. Dlamini-Zuma, even though the initial plan was to issue the passports to Heads of State, foreign affairs ministers and top diplomats, the AU had been overwhelmed by calls from many who want to share in the privilege of holding African passports.

She, therefore, appealed that nations should accept the challenge to issue the African passports to their respective nationals within their own processes.

The first copies of the African passport, a flagship project of Africa’s Agenda 2063 with the view to facilitate free movement of persons, goods and services around the continent – is to foster intra-Africa trade, integration and socio-economic development.

The passports are currently issued to Heads of States and diplomats and is believed to have high security features.

Dlamini-Zuma, while delivering her last address as AU Chairperson, spoke about the successes the Commission has made, among others, championing the rights of women, the launch of the African passport and championing youth involvement in the continent’s journey into the future.

She challenged the next commission to focus on achieving all indicators towards the Agenda 2063 dream that had been set. The AU is expected to choose a new Chairperson to run the affairs of the Commission for the next four years.