President William Ruto plans to scrap and abolish all visa requirements for Africans traveling to Kenya. A big step towards a unified Africa.
“By the end of this year, no African will be required to have a visa to come to Kenya,” Kenya’s president, William Ruto, said at a climate change conference in Congo-Brazzaville.
He also made similar remarks during the Africa Climate Summit held in Nairobi in early September where he said, ”Kenya being the cradle of mankind is home to everyone,” and they should feel at home once landing in Kenya.
Cooperation
Kenya joins The Gambia, Benin, and Seychelles as the only nations to offer unrestricted travel on the continent.
This idea will promote closer integration and cooperation among African countries with the ultimate goal of removing or minimizing border restrictions and barriers to the free movement of people, goods, and services.
Speaking during the Summit of the Three Basins on Biodiversity Ecosystems, and Tropical Forests, in Brazzaville, the Republic of Congo. The President called for the timely implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.
Employment Opportunities
AfCFTA, he noted, will increase intra-Africa trade thereby creating jobs and wealth for the people.
Read Also: President Ruto Launches Open University of Kenya in Konza City
The Head of State observed that Visa restrictions between African countries and tariffs are unnecessary impediments to trade.
“It is time we realize the importance of trading amongst ourselves and allowing goods, services, people and ideas to move freely across the continent,” he said.
He remarked that trade among East African Community countries had grown significantly due to the elimination of visa requirements and tariffs.
In May, the President hinted at the end of visa fees for African visitors during the African Private Sector Dialogue Conference on Free Trade.
Since then, in July, Comoros and Senegal citizens gained visa-free entry to Kenya. In February, Kenya and Eritrea permanently removed visa requirements for their citizens. In June, Kenya and Djibouti worked towards a visa-free arrangement to boost trade. In August, Indonesia became the third country in that month to enjoy visa-free access to Kenya.
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Additionally, a new visa-free regime has allowed Kenyan passport holders to enter South Africa without visas and vice versa. The cumulative effect of these changes means that African travelers heading to Kenya in 2024 will no longer need visas.
Concerns
Certainly, the primary concern among African leaders is that implementing free movement protocols could lead to political instability. Richer countries in Africa worry about an influx of low-skilled migrants from poorer nations.
In West Africa, porous borders have allowed terrorists like Boko Haram and the Islamic State to cross more easily. Post-colonial African states face challenges such as terrorism, economic issues, poverty, and unemployment. They must decide whether to maintain control over their countries or follow international agreements and ideologies.
Going Forward
There are many aspects associated with this borderless initiative championed by President Ruto.
Regional blocs in Africa, like the East African Community (EAC) and ECOWAS, have been making progress in easing cross-border travel restrictions. Some have even allowed passport-free movement within their regions.
One approach to achieve greater freedom of movement, as seen in Europe, took many years to develop. South America focused on improving documentation and border systems before opening borders further. An ambitious idea for Africa was the African Union passport, which was launched in 2016 but faced limitations due to concerns about security, smuggling, and local job markets.
Despite the long-held dream of a borderless Africa, observers will be on the lookout to see whether Ruto’s advocacy for a seamless Africa will be an advantage for Kenya or not.
