Paul Kagame, the President of Rwanda, announced on November 2 that Rwanda will now offer visa-free travel to all Africans, aiming to promote the free movement of people and enhance trade opportunities. This move aligns Rwanda with other African nations in their pursuit of greater continental integration, similar to Europe’s Schengen zone, where 27 European countries have eliminated the need for passports and border controls at shared borders. Kagame emphasized the vast potential of Africa as a unified tourism destination.
Currently, Africa heavily relies on tourists from outside the continent, making up 60% of its total visitors, according to data from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. During the 23rd Global Summit of the World Travel and Tourism Council, Kagame stated, “Any African can now fly to Rwanda at their convenience without any entry fees.” He further emphasized the importance of recognizing the continent’s own market, saying,
“Africans are the future of global tourism as our middle class continues to grow rapidly in the coming decades.” Rwanda follows Gambia, Benin, and Seychelles in eliminating travel restrictions for fellow Africans. Additionally, Kenya’s President William Ruto recently revealed plans to allow visa-free travel to Kenya for all Africans by December 31.