In 2019, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights adopted General Comment No 5 on the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights: The Right to Freedom of Movement and Residence (Article 12(1)). In this general comment, the commission elaborated on the right to freedom of movement and residence within state borders. This issue, while explicit in international human rights law, is a challenge within various jurisdictions, including in Africa. This article provides a background to and commentary on General Comment No 5, leveraging on the insight of the authors, who participated in its drafting. Unlike the UN Human Rights Committee's earlier general comment, General Comment No 5 provides detailed guidance on the internal dimension of the right to free movement and residence. As “soft law”, its persuasive force depends on a number of factors, including its use at the domestic level, its visibility and its integration into regional human rights jurisprudence.

2019年，非洲人权和人民权利委员会通过了关于《非洲人权和人民权利宪章：迁徙和居住自由权》的第5号一般性意见（第12条第1款）。在这项一般性评论中，委员会阐述了在国家边界内迁徙和居住的自由权。尽管这个问题在国际人权法中是明确的，但在包括非洲在内的各个司法管辖区中都是一个挑战。本文利用参与起草的作者的见识为第5号一般性评论提供了背景和评论。与联合国人权委员会先前的一般性评论不同，第5号一般性评论就内部自由迁徙和居住权的范围。作为“软法”，其说服力取决于许多因素，包括其在国内的使用，其知名度以及其与区域人权法学的融合。