EAC - Free Movement of Persons

The free movement of persons in EAC can be traced back to the Treaty for East African Cooperation between Kenya, Uganda and United Republic of Tanzania from 1967, which ensured the free movement of persons within the region as one of the key cooperation elements. Member States adopted measures to achieve the free movement of persons, labour and services, and the right of establishment and residence of their citizens in the EAC region under article 104 of the Treaty Establishing EAC (1999).[1] The official launch of the EAC passport followed in 1999 and is presently operational for EAC citizens to travel freely in the EAC region for a period of six months. Plans to have it formally adopted as an international travel document are ongoing.[2]

Migration, in the context of a Common Market, is reflected under article 104 of the Treaty Establishing EAC and in article 5 of the Protocol on the Establishment of the EAC Common Market that was adopted in 2009. The Protocol states the right of cross-border movement of persons; the adaption of integrated border management; the removal of restrictions on movement of labour and services; and the right of establishment and residence.[3] Furthermore, the harmonization of labour policies for the purposes of guaranteeing free movement of labour, as stated in article 12 of the Protocol, provides that member States harmonize labour policies, laws, and programmes to enable the free movement of labour within the EAC region.[4]