Rwanda joins three other African countries that allow visa-free entry for all African nationals. This development shows the, albeit slow, gradual advancement of the African Union’s vision of free movement on the continent.
On 02 November 2023, Rwanda announced that it would allow all African nationals visa-free entry into the country. This announcement follows a similar one by Kenya, signalling a positive trend towards increased regional integration and cooperation.
VISA ANNOUNCEMENTS
The announcement to allow visa-free travel into Rwanda by African nationals was made by Rwandan president, Paul Kagame, during the 23rd Global Summit of the World Travel and Tourism Council in Kigali. He said, ‘Any African, can get on a plane to Rwanda whenever they wish, and they will not pay a thing to enter our country.’
According to Africa’s Visa Openness Index, most countries are making progress towards simplifying entry processes and dropping restrictions to some other nations. The index measures the openness of African countries to visitors from other African countries. Many African countries also offer visa-free travel to at least five other countries, with more travel freedom within regional blocs.
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