AfDB and AU urge visa-free travel across Africa to boost trade and tourism

Economic growth across Africa continues to be slowed by one simple but persistent obstacle: restricted movement.

At a recent High-Level Symposium on Advancing a Visa-Free Africa for Economic Prosperity, leaders from the African Development Bank Group and the African Union Commission called on countries to make visa-free travel a priority.

They said easing movement would unlock trade, boost tourism, and encourage investment across the continent. 

The African Continental Free Trade Area, which aims to integrate markets across Africa, has long promised economic opportunities.

But policymakers say that promise cannot be realized without freer movement of people. “The evidence is clear. The economics support openness. 

The human story demands it,” said Alex Mubiru, director general for Eastern Africa at the African Development Bank.

He highlighted that digital systems, integrated markets, and smooth border processes are essential tools to turn policy into tangible business activity.

Visa-free travel as an economic tool 

Speakers emphasized that visa reform is more than a bureaucratic change — it is a catalyst for entrepreneurship, trade, and tourism.

Former African Union Commission Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said free movement is a cornerstone of continental unity.

“If we accept that we are Africans, then we must be able to move freely across our continent,” she said, urging countries to implement the African Passport and free-movement protocols without delay. 

Ghana’s trade minister, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, shared that her country’s early adoption of open visa policies has already drawn more business travelers and tourists, along with increased investor interest.

Symposium participants agreed that easing travel restrictions could strengthen regional supply chains, encourage new business ventures, and allow for faster humanitarian and economic responses during crises.

Challenges and early leaders 

The symposium highlighted uneven visa policies that still hinder intra-African travel.

The Africa Visa Openness Index shows that more than half of travelers across the continent still need visas before departure.

Aviation leaders, including Mesfi Bekele of Ethiopian Airlines, noted that improvements in air connectivity and visa access must go hand in hand, particularly through initiatives like the Single African Air Transport Market. 

Currently, only six countries — Seychelles, The Gambia, Benin, Rwanda, Ghana, and Kenya — allow full visa-free entry for African nationals.

Expanding these policies, officials said, could support tourism, attract investment, and strengthen Africa’s position in global trade.

The African Development Bank and African Union Commission pledged to continue working with governments and regional bodies to make travel across Africa easier, safer, and more predictable.