Visa openness on the continent is improving

THE VISA openness level is improving in Africa, which enables African citizens to travel more freely across the continent, according to the 2nd edition of the Africa Visa Openness Index.

The African Development Bank in collaboration with the African Union (AU) commission and the World Economic Forum has launched the latest report, said an AU statement on Saturday.

Analysing the visa regime in Africa and how open countries are in terms of relaxation or elimination of visa requirements for citizens from other African countries travelling to their countries, the index acknowledges existing challenges despite improvement.

The report examines which countries are facilitating travel for citizens of other countries and whether they allow people to travel to their country without a visa, with the provision of visa-on-arrival or whether visitors need to get a visa before travel. It highlights pervasive regional differences in visa openness performance on the continent.

“For example, 75 percent of countries in the top 20 most visa-open countries, are either in East or West Africa, while 20 percent are in southern Africa. Of the top 20 countries, only one country, Mauritania, is from the northern region, while none is from central Africa.”

Continent-wide, Ghana made the most progress in 2016 in opening up its borders to African travellers, moving into sixth place in the Index, up 16 places from 2015. Senegal also moved into the top 20 most visa-open countries, up nine places from 2015 and Tunisia moved 13 places from 2015.

Seychelles continues to lead the index and remains the only African country to offer visa-free access for all Africans.

Kwesi Quartey, deputy chairperson of the AU commission, has noted that much progress has been achieved despite the numerous challenges.

AU passport

In July 2016, AU launched the African Union passport that has since been issued to heads of states, the first ladies, foreign ministers, chairpersons of regional economic communities, the AU permanent representatives committee as well as some business persons.

“The AU is supporting member states in rolling out the AU passport to all its citizens, granting them visa-free access to explore the continent for business, pleasure, leisure and tourism,” said the deputy chairperson of the AU commission.

“Our leaders have to bring down the walls that separate us, from East Africa to Central Africa to North Africa to West Africa.

“We need a wider open market,” says Akinwumi A Adesina, the president of the African Development Group.

“Despite the size of our group, I need 38 visas to move around Africa,” says Aliko Dangote, president and chief executive of Dangote Group.

Going forward, focus is to continue the positive trend of Africa’s visa openness regime.

Greater visa openness in Africa would help create a people-centred African integration that offers the much needed free movement of persons, intra-African trade, tourism, study and job opportunities as well as people-to-people exchanges for all Africans, says the pan-African bloc in the statement.