In his statement the Chairperson for the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat commends the Niger government in their new achievement for taking the opportunity to deposit the instrument of ratification.

Mr. Mahamat reiterated his appreciation to President Mahamadou Issoufou, who is the Champion for the Free Trade Area, for his resolute commitment to African integration, noting that all member state that has not yet should make the necessary arrangement to become parties of the Free Trade Area Arrangement.

 “All the Member States concerned to sign and ratify, as soon as possible, the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, Right of Residence and Right of Establishment, and to join the Single African Air Transport Market” Mahamat said.

According to Mahamat both the Protocol and the Single Market are essential and complementary tools for achieving the integration and unity the African people are yearning for.

Niger, Kenya, Ghana and Rwanda according to the Chairperson have already deposited their instruments of ratification of the Free Trade Area Agreement. “Rwanda has also deposited its instrument of ratification of the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, Right of Residence and Right of Establishment” he added.

At the AU Extraordinary Summit held in Kigali, on 21 March 2018, forty-four (44) Member States signed the Free Trade Area Agreement and thirty-one (31) the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, Right of Residence and Right of Establishment. These two instruments will enter into force thirty days after the deposit of the 22nd and 15th instruments of ratification, respectively. 26 AU Member States are party to the Single African Air Transport Market.