Removing Barriers to Integration: Visa Free Travel for Africans within the Continent
Delve into the transformative potential of visa-free travel for Africans within the continent as we explore initiatives aimed at removing barriers to integration in this blog.
The African Union’s Agenda 2063 lays out a vision for an integrated and united Africa, where Africans can freely live, work, and travel across the continent. A key part of realizing this vision is removing restrictions on movement between African countries.
Visa Changes in Kenya and Rwanda
Recent announcements by Kenya and Rwanda to scrap visa requirements for all African visitors are major steps forward. Currently, only Seychelles, The Gambia and Benin allow visa-free access for all African citizens. According to the African Union’s 2022 Visa Openness Index, most African countries still have barriers in place limiting travel from other African nations.
The benefits of allowing free movement are clear – it boosts intra-Africa trade, commerce, and tourism. It facilitates labour mobility and transfer of skills. It promotes a shared African identity and social integration. And it improves infrastructure connections between countries.
The AU has pushed for an African Passport that would allow visa-free travel for all African citizens across the continent. But progress has been slow, with concerns around security, health risks, and local job impacts. Still, the Visa Openness Index shows most countries are making moves to ease restrictions.
Rwanda’s announcement that visa fees will be waived for all African visitors, following Kenya’s similar commitment, are bold steps forward. Kagame noted that integrated tourism can showcase Africa’s potential and that Africans themselves are the future drivers of tourism demand.
The AU has commended these moves, urging all member states to take action. While trade between African nations remains low at 16%, Europe manages 70% of internal trade. Removing visa barriers is key to boosting intra-African commerce.
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Smaller deals like Ghana-South Africa and Uganda-DRC visa waivers also pave the way. The “freer we are to travel”, as Kenya’s Kenyatta said, the more integrated and appreciative of our diversity we become. Visa-free travel for Africans in Africa brings us one step closer to the AU’s vision of a borderless, prosperous continent.