Freedom of movement

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies examines the gap between Africa's formal legal frameworks for freedom of movement and their actual implementation. While the African Union and various Regional Economic Communities have established treaties to leverage migration for development, national interests and securitized approaches often hinder progress, with West Africa currently serving as the continent's best practice model.

• Africa possesses the necessary legal instruments and policies for continental migration governance, but the primary obstacle is the practical implementation of these frameworks.
• The 1991 Abuja Treaty established the foundation for the African Economic Community (AEC), slated for 2028, and encourages member states to adopt employment policies that facilitate the free movement of people and the right of residence and establishment.
• The African Union's migration position is primarily articulated through the Migration Policy Framework for Africa (MPFA) and the African Common Position on Migration and Development, though most AU instruments besides the Abuja Treaty are non-binding, which undermines harmonized governance.
• The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is considered the best practice for freedom of movement in Africa due to its advanced migration regime and the adoption of a common passport for its 15 member states.
• In East Africa, the East African Community (EAC) uses common market policies to advance movement, particularly between Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda via a tripartite visa arrangement, though tensions with countries like Tanzania persist.
• Migration governance in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) is hindered by a reliance on bilateral agreements and a 'security lens' adopted by countries such as South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia, which contradicts the potential benefits of a regional framework.
• The Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) is identified as the least integrated region on the continent, with Morocco currently seeking membership in ECOWAS after efforts toward AMU integration stalled.
• Several African countries have independently led by exempting most other African passport holders from visa requirements, including Benin, Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, and the Seychelles.

APA

Maunganidze, O. A. (2017). Freedom of movement. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/policy-brief111.pdf

Chicago

Maunganidze, Ottilia Anna. Freedom of movement. Institute for Security Studies, 2017. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/policy-brief111.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Maunganidze |first1=Ottilia Anna |title=Freedom of movement |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=2017 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/policy-brief111.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{maunganidze2017freedom, author = {Maunganidze, Ottilia Anna}, title = {{Freedom of movement}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2017}, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/policy-brief111.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }