issued at the 27th African Union (AU) summit in the Rwandan capital,
Kigali.
The outgoing Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr Dlamini-Zuma
issued the first two copies to Chairperson of the AU and Chadian
president, Idris Deby Itno and Rwandan president Paul Kagame.
According to Dr. Dlamini-Zuma, even though the initial plan was to issue
the passports to Heads of State, Foreign affairs ministers and top
diplomats, the AU had been overwhelmed by calls from many who want to
share in the privilege of holding African passports.
She therefore appealed that nations should accept the challenge to issue
the African passports to their respective nationals within their own
processes.
Dlamini-Zuma in delivering her last address as AU Chairperson, spoke about
the successes the Commission has chalked among others championing the
rights of women, the launch of the African passport and championing youth
involvement in the continent’s journey into the future.
She challenged the next commission to focus on achieving all indicators
towards the Agenda 2063 dream that had been set. The AU is expected to
choose a new Chairperson to run the affairs of the Commission for the next
four years.