AFRICA'S VISA RESTRICTION NIGHTMARE

Why is the free movement of Africans across the continent so challenging? For years, there have been appeals for African countries to relax their visa restrictions, enabling us to travel more easily within Africa. Currently, only Benin, The Gambia, Rwanda, the Seychelles and Kenya have taken the progressive step of allowing visa-free entry to Africans. You’d have thought there’d be more such countries, given the clear advantages associated with unrestricted movement - such as enhanced intra-African trade and the promotion of pan-African unity.

And speaking of pan-African unity, the Alliance of Sahel States has declared that it will begin issuing joint passports starting 29 January. This new biometric ID will grant free movement between the three member nations (Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger).

Let’s hope other African states follow their example!Sources:https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/junta-led-sahel-states-ready-joint-force-5000-troops-says-minister-2025-01-22/ 

https://www.un.org/africarenewal/magazine/november-2024/easing-travel-restrictions-boost-intra-african-trade#:~:text=Free%20movement%20is%20key&text=Yet%20only%20four%20African%20countries,for%20it%20to%20take%20effect 

https://www.visaopenness.org/visa-openness-in-africa-2024-findings-2/