Photo: African Union Launches Visa-free Passport at 27th AU Summit

The 27th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government was held on 17th July 2016, at the Kigali Convention Centre (KCC), Rwanda, with a strong call for unity and love for the continent.

The opening ceremony was marked by a symbolic act of Pan-Africanism with the launch of the African Union (AU) passport aimed at facilitating the free movement of people on the continent.

H.E. Mr. Idriss Deby Itno, Chairperson of the AU and President of the Republic of Chad, and President Paul Kagame of the Republic of Rwanda, received the first passports handed to them by the Chairperson of the AU Commission, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.

“I feel deeply and proudly a true son of Africa after receiving this passport”, said President Idriss Deby while stressing the importance of fast tracking integration on the continent to achieve socio-economic growth for the wellbeing of the African citizens.

The event at the Kigali Convention Center took place in the presence of the Heads of State of the African Union (AU), the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson, the Deputy Chairperson, the Palestine President, the AU Commissioners, Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Members of the Permanent Representative Committee (PRC), officials of the AUC, Heads of AU Organs, the Media and invited guests.