The African Union passport: A waste of time

https://medium.com/@darshandsoni/the-au-passport-a-waste-of-time-ef4faf9c5d12#.8enngk88g

by darshandsoni • 9 years ago

39 12 9 years ago

edblarney• 9 years ago

I would imagine the real issue is that other countries will likely not accept it.

That's a fair point when dealing with such a large number of countries (and a widely varying stage of development between them). But the passport would have to be designed to adhere to ICAO standards in any case. That would make countries legally obliged to accept it as a valid travel document. But that, in addition to all the other factors mentioned in the article, requires a lot of formalisation or written AU mandate - none of which has happened.

dx034• 9 years ago

I guess they would only have to accept it if it was issued by a country that they recognize? And if the AU is not recognized as a country by other countries, they shouldn't have any obligation to accept the passport as a travel document?

germanier• 9 years ago

designed to adhere to ICAO standards in any case. That would make countries legally obliged to accept it as a valid travel document

That can't be true. It is possible for private individuals to create documents that adhere to those specifications. In fact, some do but of course the documents are not accepted.

mabbo• 9 years ago

And who would knowing that it's basically given out exclusively to those who bribe their local government official? Frankly, that makes the passport a stronger negative indicator that this is someone who should be allowed to cross a border.

nevi-me• 9 years ago

Very good read! I was also puzzled at why diplomats who have little travel issues were first to get the passports.

I live in South Africa, and with the ruling party and president seeing their eyes on potentially making the former AU chair our next potential president; I've been quite critical of her capabilities.

I have largely thought of the AU passport as Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma's vanity project. There's lots of structural issues which you mention, that make the practicality of the passport difficult, and than none have been dealt with says a lot.

My opinion is that ECOWAS have done better in managing their region than the AU has in intervening. The recent Gambian situation being a good example. I can't talk much about SADC as we have Swaziland and Zimbabwe that are violating human rights with SA and other members not intervening much.

Your solution of adopting ECOWAS and/or other frameworks is more feasible.

riffraff• 9 years ago

morocco is actually a member of the AU again, since a couple weeks

http://www.worldbulletin.net/todays-news/183967/morocco-rejo...

darshandsoni3• 9 years ago

Right you are! I've put a footnote in the article to reflect the change in status. After all those years outside, the AU probably strategically wanted a sizeable regional power like Morocco back in. Unfortunately for the Sahrawis, apart from an EU ruling every now and then, their cause is all but forgotten.

In the larger context of the article though, it probably doesn't change much of the political reality.

Pica_soO• 9 years ago

Sir, there seems to be a problem with your African Union Passport, would you please follow me to the local police station to waste 2-3 hours and contemplate the absence of a bribe?

rurban• 9 years ago

Good read, but the title is entirely misleading. It's not a waste of time, the AU passport is extremely important to be rolled out.

But the current scheme is of course a sham, a mere propaganda piece. And maybe yet another scheme to get paid bribes a 2nd time. Nevertheless, you have to start somewhere to build pressure.

The African Union passport: A waste of time

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