Rwanda introduces visa-free entry to African visitors
Africa
By
VOA
| Nov 03, 2023
President of Rwanda Paul Kagame walks along Downing Street to a meeting with Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, in London, May 4, 2023. Rwanda announced Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023, visa-free entry for all Africans. [Via VOA]
Rwanda announced Thursday that it will allow Africans to travel visa-free to the country, becoming the latest nation on the continent to announce such a measure aimed at boosting the free movement of people and trade to rival Europe's Schengen zone.
President Paul Kagame made the announcement in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, where he pitched the potential of Africa as "a unified tourism destination" for a continent that still relies on 60% of its tourists from outside Africa, according to data from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
"Any African, can get on a plane to Rwanda whenever they wish and they will not pay a thing to enter our country," said Kagame during the 23rd Global Summit of the World Travel and Tourism Council.
"We should not lose sight of our own continental market," he said. "Africans are the future of global tourism as our middle class continues to grow at a fast pace in the decades to come."
READ MORE
Ruto strips agriculture body of coffee role in sector shake-up
French aid worker killed in DR Congo air strike
Rwanda hits back at US sanctions over M23 support in DR Congo
US slaps sanctions on Rwanda military over DR Congo 'violation'
DR Congo, M23 fighters trade accusations over ceasefire
Angola proposes new DR Congo ceasefire
South Africa to withdraw troops from UN mission in DR Congo
Kipyegon among super-fast stars invited for Sirikwa Classic XC tour
Deadly landslide strikes M23 held mining site in DRC
DR Congo city residents forced to adapt during year of M23 rule
Once implemented, Rwanda will become the fourth African country to remove travel restrictions for Africans. Other countries that have waived visas to African nationals are Gambia, Benin, and Seychelles.
Kenya's President William Ruto announced Monday plans to allow all Africans to travel to the East African nation visa-free by December 31.
"Visa restrictions amongst ourselves are working against us. When people cannot travel, business people cannot travel, entrepreneurs cannot travel we all become net losers" said Ruto at an international summit in Congo Brazzaville.
The African Union in 2016 launched an African passport with much fanfare, saying it would rival the European Union model in "unleashing the potential of the continent." However, only diplomats and AU officials have been issued the travel document so far.
The African Passport and free movement of people is "aimed at removing restrictions on Africans ability to travel, work and live within their own continent," The AU says on its website.
AU also launched the African Continental Free Trade Area, a continent-wide free trade area estimated to be worth $3.4 trillion, which aims to create a single unified market for the continent's 1.3 billion people and boost economic development.