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United States of Africa? African Union launches all-Africa passport

By Kieron Monks, for CNN

Updated 1437 GMT (2237 HKT) July 19, 2016

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The African Union is introducing a common passport that will allow visa-free access to all 54 member states, superseding existing national documents.
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Full house – The African Union is introducing a common passport that will allow visa-free access to all 54 member states, superseding existing national documents.
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The electronic passports will first be issued to heads of states and officials at the upcoming African Union summit in Rwanda, before being rolled out to citizens.
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First served – The electronic passports will first be issued to heads of states and officials at the upcoming African Union summit in Rwanda, before being rolled out to citizens.
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The move represents a step towards a continental integration and the historic vision of 'Pan-Africanism' espoused by post-independence leaders such as Ghana's first president Kwame Nkrumah (left) and Egypt's second president Gamal Abdel Nasser (right).
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Pan-Africanism – The move represents a step towards a continental integration and the historic vision of 'Pan-Africanism' espoused by post-independence leaders such as Ghana's first president Kwame Nkrumah (left) and Egypt's second president Gamal Abdel Nasser (right).
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The African Union believes easing access restrictions for travel within the continent will reduce then number of people embarking on dangerous migration routes.
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Open doors save lives – The African Union believes easing access restrictions for travel within the continent will reduce then number of people embarking on dangerous migration routes.
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But critics argue that opening borders will help terror groups and organized crime.
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Hidden costs? – But critics argue that opening borders will help terror groups and organized crime.
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But critics argue that opening borders will help terror groups and organized crime.
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Hidden costs? – But critics argue that opening borders will help terror groups and organized crime.
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mixed passportsafrican union summitNkrumah Nassermigration libyaal shabaabal shabaab

Story highlights

  • Proposed African Union passport would allow visa-free travel to all 54 member states
  • Logistical challenges make 2018 target ambitious

(CNN)As the European Union threatens to unravel in the wake of Britain's vote to leave, the African Union is pursuing a path of closer integration through the launch of a common passport that will grant visa-free access to all 54 member states.

The first of the electronic passports were unveiled at the AU summit in Kigali, Rwanda, where they were issued to heads of state and senior officials. The Union aims to distribute them to all African citizens by 2020.
    "The opening ceremony was marked by a symbolic act of Pan-Africanism with the launch of the African Union (AU) passport aimed at facilitating the free movement of people on the continent," the Union announced in a statement.
    The passports represent a key plank of the Agenda 2063 action plan, which emphasizes the need for greater continental integration, drawing on the popular vision of Pan-African unity. Freedom of movement has been a longstanding priority among member states, as enshrined in previous agreements such as the 1991 Abuja Treaty. Common passports have already been adopted for several regions, such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

    Open door policy