KIGALI, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Officials and experts said Wednesday that Africa needs more political will to achieve free movement of people.
Thirty-two African countries have signed the protocol relating to free movement of persons, the right of residence and the right of establishment in Africa, according to the African Union (AU). However, it needs to be ratified before being effective.
A lack of political will and capacity of African countries to implement the decisions taken at the ministerial level in different regional economic communities cause difficulties to achieve free movement of people in Africa, said Emelang Leteane, social affairs officer for United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).
The official has said this at a panel session during UNECA's 22nd Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts of the Sub-regional Office for Eastern Africa.
Africa needs a more coherent position on the protocol on free movement of persons, along with greater political commitment to make it effective at national, regional and continental level, said Cyrus Nkusi, chief executive officer of Governance for Africa based in Rwanda.
Over 250 participants, including senior government officials, experts and representatives from the private sector from the 14 member states of UNECA's Office for Eastern Africa, attended the meeting running from Nov. 20 to Nov. 22.
