Image credit – PEXELS
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and the African Union Commission (AUC) have renewed momentum toward creating a visa-free Africa, identifying mobility as a critical enabler of the continent’s economic transformation.
The call was made during a High-Level Symposium on Advancing a Visa-Free Africa for Economic Prosperity, held on the sidelines of the 39th African Union Summit of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa. The session brought together policymakers, business leaders, and development institutions to advance the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agenda through freer movement of people.
Participants described mobility as the missing link in Africa’s integration efforts, noting that while tariff barriers are falling under AfCFTA, restrictive visa regimes continue to constrain trade in services, investment, tourism, and labour mobility.
Alex Mubiru, Director General for Eastern Africa at the African Development Bank Group, said visa-free travel and interoperable digital systems were “practical enablers of enterprise, innovation, and regional value chains.” He added, “The evidence is clear. The economics support openness. The human story demands it,” urging countries to move from incremental reforms to transformative change.
Amma A. Twum-Amoah, Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development at the African Union Commission, called for accelerated implementation of continental frameworks, describing visa openness as a strategic lever to deepen regional markets and strengthen resilience.
Former AU Commission Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma reiterated that free movement remains central to the African Union’s long-term blueprint, Agenda 2063. “If we accept that we are Africans, then we must be able to move freely across our continent,” she said, calling for operationalisation of the African Passport and the Free Movement of Persons Protocol.
Findings from the Africa Visa Openness Index were also discussed, showing that over half of intra-African travel still requires visas before departure — a significant constraint on continental commerce.
Industry leaders, including Ethiopian Airlines CEO Mesfin Bekele, highlighted the importance of aligning visa liberalisation with the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) to enable seamless travel.
In a symbolic gesture, attendees signed a “passport wall,” expressing support for reforms to make cross-border travel easier for African citizens. The AfDB and AUC reaffirmed their commitment to supporting member states in developing coordinated mobility systems — viewed as a cornerstone for Africa’s integration, competitiveness, and shared prosperity.
