Kenyan President William Ruto has announced the removal of visa requirements for all African visitors by the end of this year. Ruto emphasized the need to abolish visa restrictions among African nations, stating that such restrictions are counterproductive.
The African Union (AU) has long pursued visa-free travel within the continent. While there have been regional agreements and bilateral arrangements, progress towards completely unrestricted travel has been slow.
Currently, Benin Republic, Nigeria, Seychelles, and The Gambia are the only countries that permit entry to all African citizens without a visa.
According to Africa’s Visa Openness Index, which measures the accessibility of African countries to visitors from other African nations, many countries have been simplifying entry procedures and reducing restrictions for specific nations. In 2022, Kenya ranked 31st out of 54 African states on this index.
President Ruto, speaking in Congo-Brazzaville, highlighted the adverse effects of visa restrictions on businesses, entrepreneurs, and travelers. He expressed Kenya’s commitment to changing this, stating, “As Kenya, by the end of this year, no African will be required to have a visa to come to Kenya.”
This announcement was met with enthusiastic applause at the summit where he made the declaration. Ruto emphasized the importance of not limiting African youth to the confines of their continent or Europe. The announcement was made at a summit dedicated to the preservation of the world’s largest rainforests.
