Consolidating The African Continental Free Trade Area Portrait of a Common Market

Abstract

Common markets entail the free movement of labour, and in some cases the free movement of persons. As Africa and its regions head towards free trade agreements - and later common markets and perhaps a single one - the question of how to move forward on the movement of persons arises. This paper contextualizes Africa in global history and argues that pathways to reform differ widely in time and space. Africa and its regions cannottreat the history of migration reform as a textbook; rather, it is acompendium of ideas. Some of these ideas - derived from Africanexperiences and from the rest of the globe - may help policymakers maketheir way towards an Africa without barriers for its people. African policymakers should engage each other, and experts across the continent, to achieve greater understanding of African achievements and setbacks, and to agree on viable pathways forward for the freedom of movement of Africans in Africa.