The 38th African Union (AU) Summit has brought the call for a visa-free Africa to the forefront, with leaders, policymakers, and business stakeholders urging governments to dismantle travel barriers that hinder the continent’s economic growth and integration. The African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have jointly emphasized the need for accelerated action to remove visa restrictions, which continue to obstruct intra-African trade, labor mobility, and innovation.
Speaking at the High-Level Strategic Dialogue on Accelerating Visa-Free Movement for Africa’s Transformation on February 12, AU officials highlighted the contradiction between Africa’s vision of regional integration and the reality that many Africans still require visas to travel within the continent. Ambassador Albert Mudenda Muchanga, AU Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry, and Minerals, stated, “We cannot talk about a united Africa if Africans themselves cannot move freely within their own continent. It is time for our governments to evaluate what has worked and what has not worked”.
The Africa Visa Openness Index, a collaborative effort by the AfDB and AUC, has consistently revealed slow progress in easing travel restrictions. While countries like Rwanda, The Gambia, Seychelles, Benin, and Ghana have embraced visa-free policies, many others remain restrictive. Over 50% of African nations still require visas for most African travelers, creating significant barriers to labor migration, business, and trade.
Nnenna Nwabufo, Vice President for Regional Development at AfDB, stressed that achieving an integrated Africa requires “bold leadership and collective commitment to dismantle visa barriers.” Similarly, Rwanda’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Prudence Sebahizi, underscored the importance of aligning free movement with trade facilitation under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), noting that “goods do not move themselves; people move them”.
To accelerate progress, the AU and AfDB have launched the 2025 Visa-Free Roadshow, a campaign aimed at engaging policymakers, businesses, and civil society to promote visa liberalization. The initiative will showcase success stories, highlight economic benefits, and push for political commitments to break down travel barriers. This effort aligns with the AU’s Agenda 2063, which envisions a borderless Africa.
As the AU Summit continues, the push for visa-free movement remains a critical topic. Leaders are being urged to translate policy commitments into concrete actions, with the overarching message being clear: free movement of people is essential for Africa’s prosperity. By removing visa restrictions, the continent can unlock its full potential, fostering economic growth, innovation, and unity.
Source: Travel News Africa
