President Paul Kagame has announced that Rwanda will allow all Africans to travel to that country without the need for a visa. This move is aimed at promoting the free movement of people and trade within Africa, similar to the Schengen zone in Europe.
President Paul Kagame made the announcement in Kigali on Thursday, highlighting the potential for Africa to become a unified tourism destination, Associated Press’ Emmanuel Igunza reported. Currently, 60% of tourists visiting Africa are from outside the continent. Said Kagame during the 23rd Global Summit of the World Travel and Tourism Council:
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.
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. Said Ruto at an international summit in Congo Brazzaville:
Visa restrictions amongst ourselves is working against us. When people cannot travel, business people cannot travel, entrepreneurs cannot travel we all become net losers.
The African Union (AU) launched an African passport in 2016, with the aim of promoting the free movement of people within the continent. However, so far, only diplomats and AU officials have been issued the passport. The AU also launched the African Continental Free Trade Area, which aims to create a single market for the continent and boost economic development.