Rwanda Declares Visa-Free Travel for Africans

Rwanda Declares Visa-Free Travel for Africans

In a significant move to promote the free movement of people and boost trade within the African continent, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda has announced the elimination of visa requirements for Africans.

Rwanda joins the ranks of other African nations pursuing greater continental integration, akin to Europe’s Schengen zone, known for its passport-free and borderless travel among 27 European countries.

President Kagame unveiled this groundbreaking decision during a speech in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. He emphasized the immense potential of Africa as a unified tourism destination, highlighting that currently, the continent relies heavily on visitors from outside Africa, accounting for 60% of its total tourists, as per data from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

During the 23rd Global Summit of the World Travel and Tourism Council, President Kagame articulated the significance of this policy shift. He stated, “Any African can get on a plane to Rwanda whenever they wish, and they will not pay a thing to enter our country. We should not lose sight of our own continental market. Africans are the future of global tourism as our middle class continues to grow at a fast pace in the decades to come.”

Rwanda’s decision to offer visa-free travel for Africans aligns with the growing trend in the continent. Countries like Gambia, Benin, and Seychelles have already adopted similar policies. Furthermore, Kenya’s President William Ruto has recently disclosed plans to extend visa-free travel to Kenya for all Africans by December 31, underlining the momentum towards enhanced regional and continental integration.