Luanda - Angola and the African Union (AU) signed Monday in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) an agreement on visa exemption for passports and "Laissez Passer", as well as visa facilitation in ordinary passports for officials of the continental organization, their dependents, family members and mission experts.
Signed by the Angolan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Téte António, and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, the agreement applies to AU staff of member states, holders of passports or Laissez-Passer of this organization, holders of a valid contract with the African Union and their dependents.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that reached Angop, the signing of this legal instrument does not exclude the need for a host country agreement between Angola and the African Union regarding any entity that may be based in Angola's territory.
AU personnel who hold a valid African Union passport or Laissez-Passer have the right to enter, leave and remain in the territory of the Republic of Angola for a period not exceeding 90 days, within a temporary stay of six months from the date of first entry, without obtaining a visa.
Personnel who do not have a valid passport or Laissez-Passer from the continental organization, but maintain a valid contract with the African Union, in the event that a visa is required for their national passport, will apply for courtesy visas at the Angolan embassy at the AU headquarters and institutions or in their home country.
The agreement now signed aims to further encourage the development of existing cooperative relations between the parties and to simplify the travel system to and from Angola for AU personnel and mission experts for the organs of this organization, as well as family members of African Union personnel operating in Angola. VC/TED/AMP
