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Will an African passport fly? Or should we take several regional hops first?

The concept of a United State of Africa has gained traction in the past few months after the African Union launched an African passport in July. The goal is to have the document in circulation by 2020 to allow citizens of the 54 member states to travel visa-free across the continent. ILLUSTRATION | JOHN NYAGAH |

The concept of a United State of Africa has gained traction in the past few months after the African Union launched an African passport in July. The goal is to have the document in circulation by 2020 to allow citizens of the 54 member states to travel visa-free across the continent.

The notion of a single continental bloc was advanced by the late Libyan president Col. Muammar Gaddafi who even put substantial resources into it to woo African states into buying the proposed idea. Although largely driven by his own political ambitions and ego, Gaddafi had a valid proposition of a united Africa to which the AU now seems to be receptive.

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