The Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, H.E Wamkele Mene has called for the advancement of Protocol on Free Movement of Persons (FMP) and the AfCFTA Agreement as key regional integration instruments.
According to him, both the Protocol on FMP and the AfCFTA Agreement as key regional integration instruments are pivotal for harnessing the symbiotic benefits of their effective implementation toward the full realisation of the Agenda 2063, ‘the Africa We Want’.
The two principals also agreed to undertake a series of joint activities under the 2023 AU theme of the year “Accelerating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area”.
Mr. Mene said this when the Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development of the African Union Commission, Amb. Minata Samate Cessouma, accompanied by Ms. Mariama Cisse Mohamed, Director for International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Special Liaison Office to the AUC and UNECA paid a courtesy visit to the AfCFTA Secretariat.
The visit is geared towards fast tracking AU Member States ratification, domestication and implementation of the AU Protocol on Free movement of Persons (FMP), Right of Residence and Right of Establishment in Africa.
On her part, Amb. Cessouma underscored that the AfCFTA is necessary and timely for medication and healthcare technological equipment to circulate and for the movement of health professionals.
Areas of common interest were agreed on by both heads, to explore ways of working together, from: expanding partnerships with African financial institutions, towards supporting an advocacy campaign on the FMP protocol and the implementation of the AfCFTA, developing an advocacy strategy for the signature, ratification and the implementation of the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons.
Working together to facilitate the movement of health workers and business people for the benefit of the continent, Planning and implementing joint activities, missions, and strategic engagements in line with advancing the Protocol on FMP and AfCFTA Agreement.
Further, it was also agreed that they leverage the support of partners for building the capacities of immigration officials and frontline workers including identity management and integrated border governance,Involving Heads of States, Goodwill Ambassadors, Special Envoys and Digital Diplomats for the promotion and ratification of the Protocol on FMP.
They also resolved alongside partners, to jointly convene a side event on FMP for trade on the margins of the African Games 2024 to be hosted by the Republic of Ghana, as well as explore ways and means of facilitating the free movement of medication and healthcare workers within the framework of the African Medicines Agency.
