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Africa Visa Openness Report 2024: Progress and Challenges in Regional Mobility Africa Visa Openness Report 2024: Progress and Challenges in Regional Mobility

The Africa Visa Openness Report 2024, recently presented by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the African Union Commission (AUC), sheds light on notable advancements in facilitating the movement of people throughout the continent. Despite these improvements, the report underscores that existing visa policies continue to hinder Africa’s goals for regional integration and economic development. Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, President of the AfDB, emphasized the critical role of mobility in trade, stating, “We cannot claim to have borderless trade while imposing barriers that restrict the movement of people.” This year’s report captures both the progress achieved and the ongoing obstacles in visa accessibility, as countries work to align their policies with the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and Agenda 2063.

Key Insights: A Mixed Bag of Progress

The 2024 Africa Visa Openness Index (AVOI) indicates a slight decline in the overall score, decreasing from 0.485 in 2023 to 0.479. Among the 54 nations evaluated:

  • 17 countries saw improvements in their scores, reflecting successful reforms.
  • 29 countries maintained their positions, indicating stability but no advancement.
  • 8 countries experienced declines, primarily due to political instability and security issues.

Currently, 47% of intra-African travel requires visas, which marks a modest increase from the previous year, while 28% of travel remains visa-free. The continent's slow adoption of digital solutions is evident, with some progress in e-visas and improvements to visa-on-arrival policies.

Top Performers in Africa’s Visa Openness

Rwanda, Seychelles, The Gambia, and Benin are at the forefront of Africa’s visa reforms, permitting all African visitors to enter without the need for a visa. These nations serve as exemplary models for fostering regional unity. The top 10 performers also include Guinea-Bissau, Cabo Verde, Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, and Mauritius. Together, these countries demonstrate how open borders can enhance connections, collaboration, and opportunities for Africans.

Ongoing Challenges: Conflict and Digital Divide

Despite the positive developments, several barriers remain. Ongoing conflicts in various regions of Africa disrupt travel and trade. Additionally, the introduction of Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs) has sometimes created more bureaucratic challenges rather than simplifying the travel process. While e-visas hold promise for streamlining travel, disparities in their implementation—such as issues with affordability and technical reliability—reveal significant gaps. Dr. Joy Kategekwa, Director of the AfDB’s Regional Integration Coordination Office, stressed the urgent need for action: “Africa cannot fulfill its development goals without frameworks that encourage mobility across the continent.”

Promoting Regional Integration

Visa openness is a crucial component of the AfDB’s new Ten-Year Strategy (2024–2033), which emphasizes the free movement of people as a means to enhance intra-African trade and industrial growth. This strategy aligns with the AfCFTA's vision of creating the world’s largest unified market and strengthening economic resilience. The average AVOI scores across the eight Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in Africa reveal varying levels of development. ECOWAS, supported by the 1979 Protocol on Free Movement, boasts the highest regional score, while SADC and EAC are gradually improving.

Recommendations: A Call to Action

To foster a more seamless and integrated continent, the report proposes several recommendations:

  • Accelerate the adoption of visa-free or visa-on-arrival policies across RECs.
  • Standardize e-visa platforms to enhance affordability, security, and efficiency.
  • Strengthen advocacy for the African Union’s Protocol on Free Movement of Persons.

As Africa strives for greater integration, promoting mobility is essential. By tackling visa-related challenges, the continent can unlock economic opportunities, facilitate cross-border collaboration, and work towards the vision of “The Africa We Want.”