President Paul Kagame of Rwanda has announced plans to grant visa-free travel to Africans.
This bold move is aimed at facilitating the seamless movement of people and enhancing trade across the continent, solidifying Rwanda’s position as a key player in the drive for a more integrated Africa.
Rwanda joins the growing list of African nations embracing this transformative policy, echoing the aspirations of the European Schengen zone.
The Schengen zone, which unites 27 European countries, has successfully eliminated the need for passports and various border control measures at their shared borders.
During his speech in Kigali, President Kagame articulated the immense potential of Africa as a unified tourism destination.
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Currently, the continent heavily relies on tourists from outside Africa, constituting a staggering 60% of its total visitors, 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. Africans are the future of global tourism as our middle class continues to grow at a fast pace in the decades to come,” he said.
Rwanda is on the verge of joining the ranks of African nations that have removed travel restrictions for their fellow Africans, following the example set by Gambia, Benin, and the Seychelles.
Likewise, in a recent announcement, President William Ruto of Kenya disclosed his intentions to institute visa-free travel to Kenya for all Africans by December 31.