AU Protocol on Free Movement of People

The African Youth Essay Competition, organized by AfCFTA Dialogues, aims to promote awareness and foster the exchange of ideas about the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and African development. In commemoration of African Integration Day, the inaugural edition in 2024 engages young Africans in discussions on the significance of the AfCFTA, with a focus on advocating for the free movement of Africans within the continent to facilitate economic integration and drive sustainable development.

This low level of priority accorded to the social impact of the AfCTA contradicts the core values and aspirations of the African Union (AU). Most notably Article 3 (g) and 4 (c), (I), (m), and (n) of the AU Constitutive Act which all envisage an African Union that is democratic, inclusive, open to the participation of stakeholders, and sensitive to social concerns in the pursuit of economic development. However, going by what transpired prior to Kigali, it appears that priority was not accorded to these concerns mentioned above. More importantly, the recent hiccups experienced at the Kigali Summit are evidence that dialoguing with a broad range of stakeholders about the impact of trade on social structures is vital to the attainment of legitimate and effective economic agreements in Africa.