African Union to launch visa-free Passport
August 2016 - The African Union has unveiled a new African Passport that will give passport holders visa-free access to all 54 African Union States.
Currently, Africans need a visa to travel to over 55% of African states.
Initially, the new African Passport will only be available to AU heads of state and government, ministers of foreign affairs, and the permanent representatives of AU member states who are based at the headquarters of the AU in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
By 2018, the AU plans to make the African Passport available to all African citizens.
Said outgoing chairperson of the African Union, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, "The goal of the passport is to create an ease of movement across the continent which will lead to better and simpler trade between countries. The hope is that Africa, with the use of this passport, will see a very positive economic transformation."
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