On the sidelines of the 38th African Union Summit, African leaders convened to address the challenges of economic integration. A key focus was the promotion of visa-free movement to reduce illegal migration and enhance official travel channels.
The African Development Bank Group and the African Union Commission organised the strategic dialogue, bringing together trade ministers and business leaders. The discussion highlighted Rwanda’s experience, demonstrating that open borders can enhance security rather than compromise it.
Read also: Africa to expand refining capacity to 400,000 barrels per day with new investments
Commitment to Visa-Free MovementAfrican Development Bank Group Vice President for Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery, Nnenna Nwabufo, reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to advancing visa-free movement across Africa.
We do it for its promise to transform Africa and to create prosperity,” she stated. “In fact, the goals of our new Ten‑Year Strategy (2024–2033) are designed around seizing Africa’s opportunities for a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and integrated continent.”
Key priorities for economic integration
Albert Muchanga, Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals at the African Union Commission, outlined four priorities to facilitate free movement across the continent:
- Liberalising the movement of essential groups for trade in goods and services.
- Implementing the Strategic Framework on Key Actions for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development.
- Advancing economic integration towards an African Common Market under the 1991 Abuja Treaty.
- Establishing appropriate facilitation measures, including infrastructure, to support free movement.
Muchanga emphasised the importance of continental projects such as the trans-African highways, including routes from Cairo to Cape Town and Dakar to Mombasa, as critical infrastructure to support mobility.
Read also: Congo secures $1.05 bn for oil and gas expansion by 2027
Progress in visa openness
The dialogue featured a presentation on the “State of Play in Visa-Free Movement in Africa,” delivered by Ometere Omoluabi-Davies, Principal Regional Integration Coordinator at the African Development Bank’s Regional Integration Coordination Office. The presentation shared findings from the latest Africa Visa Openness Index (AVOI).
According to the report, 39 African countries have improved their visa openness scores since 2016, marking the highest level of visa openness recorded since the inception of the index. Despite this progress, further efforts are needed to facilitate unrestricted movement within the continent.
Rwanda’s experience with visa-free travel
Rwanda’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Prudence Sebahizi, shared insights on his country’s implementation of a visa-free regime and the economic benefits it has brought.
“Rwanda does not agree with the usual excuse of security threats that accompany visa-free discussions because what is important is to invest in the systems, security, governance, monitoring,” he stated.
Sebahizi explained that tourism and business travellers rely on official channels such as borders and airports, making it unlikely that visa-free policies would contribute to security concerns. Instead, he argued, these policies could help address issues such as smuggling and illegal migration.
Read also: AfDB approves $31m to boost climate resilience in four African countries
Roundtable discussions and youth involvement
The event featured roundtable discussions with policymakers and business leaders exploring the practical implementation of visa-free movement. The African Union’s Youth Envoy, Chido Mpemba, highlighted the role of young people in driving cross-border collaboration.
She noted that the interconnectedness of African youth through social media and the internet fosters experience sharing and cultural integration, contributing to a shared African identity.
Launch of the 2025 visa-free roadshow
The session concluded with a joint announcement of the 2025 Visa-Free Roadshow by Dr. Joy Kategekwa, Director of the Regional Integration Coordination Office of the African Development Bank Group, and Dr. Sabelo Mbokazi, Head of Employment, Labour and Migration Division of the African Union Commission.
The roadshow aims to sustain advocacy and mobilise action for visa openness as part of Africa’s broader regional integration agenda. It seeks to drive progress towards a more integrated and accessible continent, benefiting all Africans.
