Trips to Rwanda may no longer require passports as the East African Community (EAC) moves to introduce an almost restriction-free system of crossing the border. The EAC states that the decision may require the use of electronic readable Identification cards as stipulated in the Common Market Protocol.

This would require those with the previous ID cards to upgrade to the newer versions which are compatible with electronic card reading devices. The initiative may not help Rwandans travelling by road to Kenya through Uganda. However, Kenyans will have no problem navigating the greater East African region based on already established border crossing agreements with Tanzania and Uganda.

According to Rwanda’s Directorate of Immigration and Emigration, Kenya and Rwanda have already agreed to set up a bilateral technical team to sort out the finer details.

“The whole idea is about easing free movement of people and goods across the two countries,” said Ange Sebutege, the Communications Officer from Rwanda’s Directorate.

This follows the EAC Summit that was recently held in Kigali, where Musa Sirma, Kenyan Minister for East African Cooperation announced that the plans were well underway. He said that the move was part of a bigger strategy, aimed at abolishing Visas for all the five EAC member states.

Kenya and Rwanda are currently the only two countries in the region which use electronic readable identity cards.