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

By Kieron Monks, for CNN

Updated 1437 GMT (2237 HKT) July 19, 2016

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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