AU FREE MOVEMENT PROTOCOL: A REQUIEM TO AFROPHOBIA & MASS EXPULSION?

Abstract

Africa has experienced several cases of Afrophobic attacks and mass African migrants’ expulsion. These African-migrants attacks and expulsions have occurred despite the existence of sub regional free movement agreements. This paper seeks to examine whether the Protocol to the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community Relating to the Free Movement of Persons, Right of Residence and Right of Establishment (AUFMP/the Protocol), presages the end of Afrophobia and mass African migrants’ expulsion. If these regional agreements were unable to prevent these unsavoury occurrences, what does the Protocol offer differently that will offer basis of hopeful end to these incidents? The paper analyses relevant portions the AU Free Movement Protocol, with the aim of finding whether similar provisions existed in regions that have experienced notable Afrophobic attacks and expulsions. Drawing from the experience of these regional free movement agreements, it examines some of the problems and prospects that the Protocol faces. It concludes that whereas the Protocol is a major pillar in the African integration project, the same fundamental issues hampered regional free movement will also prevent the Protocol from exorcising Afrophobia and mass expulsion.