The need for a unified passport and visa-free travel for Africans within the continent has become increasingly evident as economic integration and growth intensify. The African Union (AU) has long championed the idea of seamless borders to promote intra-African trade, bolster tourism, and foster socio-economic development. The continent’s vast potential can be fully realized only through advanced mobility and cooperation among its nations.
Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe are simplifying travel for international tourists by removing the requirement for separate visas and developing a unified visa system similar to the Schengen visa. This initiative will enable travelers to move freely with just a single visa, eliminating the need for additional documentation or the burden of obtaining several visas.
Intra-African trade currently accounts for only 17% of the continent’s exports compared to Europe’s 69%. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), already in motion, aims to create the largest free trade area in the world. This initiative has created a market encompassing 1.2 billion people and has formed the world’s eighth-largest economic bloc, with a combined GDP of $3 trillion. This figure is projected to more than double by 2050.
The African Passport and Free Movement of People, a pivotal component of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, aims to overhaul obstructive policies and laws that impede the movement of African citizens across borders. A significant breakthrough occurred with the introduction of the African passport in 2016, facilitating visa-free travel throughout the continent.
Introducing this unified visa will boost tourism, strengthen economic ties among African nations, and facilitate a more interconnected and cooperative continent. By easing travel restrictions, this policy encourages the flow of business, and cultural exchange, all of which are critical components of economic growth and development.
The Africa Visa Openness Report of 2022 highlights that 27% of intra-African travel routes allowed African citizens to travel without needing a visa, marking an increase from 25% in 2021 and 20% in 2016. Then in 2022, 24 African nations, comprising over 40% of the continent, provided eVisas to both African and other global travelers, compared to just nine countries, making up 17% of the continent, in 2016.
For AfCFTA to reach its full potential, the movement of goods must be complemented by the free movement of people. Entrepreneurs, investors, and skilled workers can easily travel, identify opportunities, and establish businesses. African destinations would become more accessible to Africans, promoting regional tourism and reducing the dependency on international tourists. This internal tourism boost would lead to infrastructure development, increased airline traffic, and hospitality sector growth, creating a ripple effect across various industries.
Many Africans find it especially aggravating that European passports, issued by former colonial powers, offer more visa-free access in Africa than African passports do. Prominent African leaders have voiced their support for these measures. Aliko Dangote, one of the continent’s most influential entrepreneurs, has been particularly vocal about the detrimental impact of stringent visa policies on business operations.
He also highlights how the cumbersome visa processes can stifle expansion and economic collaboration within Africa. Dangote highlighted this issue at a recent event in Kigali. He praised Rwanda for eliminating visa requirements for all African nationals in 2023.
These endeavors towards a borderless continent are reinforced by regional economic blocs like the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the East African Community, and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). These blocs permit citizens of member states to move freely within their borders and work without restrictive conditions. However, the recent withdrawal of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso from ECOWAS complicates the landscape of mobility within the bloc.
Beyond economic benefits, a unified passport and visa-free travel would promote educational opportunities and pan-African initiatives that can bridge gaps and build stronger connections among the continent’s youth. Educational institutions across Africa would benefit from the influx of students from neighboring countries. Enriching and promoting a diverse exchange of ideas through collaborative research and partnerships to address common challenges in healthcare, climate change, and technology.
It would also reinforce the vision of the African Union (AU) and the Agenda 2063, which envisions an integrated, prosperous, and peaceful Africa. Strengthening political stability by reducing regional tensions and improving the continent’s influence in global governance.
