The East African Community’s dream of having a common e-East African passport for the citizens of its five member states will soon come to reality. Initially scheduled for release in November 2015, the e-passport was delayed as pending issues were ironed out. But from March this year, citizens from the trading bloc will be able to access the EAC e-passport, allowing easy movement within the community-a mandate of the EAC integration process. Its introduction will also be a milestone towards achieving harmonization in the region.

EAC states plan on having their citizens use the new generation document for global travel too. Owora Richard Othieno said that launching the international EAC e-passport is on the agenda of the upcoming 17th Ordinary EAC Heads of State Summit. The EAC senior communication official was speaking ahead of the Summit on Tuesday. The Summit is set for February 29 and will be preceded by a meeting of the EAC Council of Ministers from February 22 to 27. Both will take place at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania. The EAC trading bloc includes Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania.

Source: Footprint to Africa

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