East Africa’s Open Borders – Gains Made but Gaps Remain

East Africa’s Open Borders – Gains Made but Gaps Remain


The East African Community (EAC) has made notable progress in easing the movement of people across borders, placing it alongside West Africa’s ECOWAS as a continental leader. Yet, according to Alan Hirsch, Senior Research Fellow at the New South Institute and Emeritus Professor at the University of Cape Town, “there is still a long way to go” before free movement becomes a reality for all.

Alan’s new report, produced by the New South Institute, finds that unlike much of the global north, “the African continent is moving towards more open borders for people.” In East Africa, strong political will and regional cooperation have played decisive roles. The EAC’s Common Market Protocol, adopted in 2010, gives citizens the right to work, reside, and start businesses across member states, along with commitments to harmonize professional qualifications.

Success has been most visible between Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda, where citizens can cross with just national IDs and access jobs easily. “Rwanda was one of the first countries on the continent to offer visa-free entry to all other African countries,” he noted, while Uganda is praised for its inclusive refugee policies.

However, progress has been uneven. Tanzania and Burundi still require passports, while newer members such as South Sudan, the DRC, and Somalia face additional restrictions due to governance challenges. Labor laws requiring work permits remain in place in some states, and the harmonization of education, health, and welfare systems has lagged, limiting cross-border job opportunities.

The East African Court of Justice has occasionally ruled in favor of free movement, but as Alan admits, “its ability to enforce the decisions is minimal,” particularly after amendments in 2007 weakened its powers.