The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development, Odrek Rwabwogo, has questioned the continued use of restrictive visa requirements across African states, arguing that such barriers undermine the continent’s integration and economic growth goals.
Speaking during the International Business Week at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Rwabwogo asked why a Ugandan still needs a visa to enter Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, or many other African countries, despite decades of political commitments to African unity.
“When we integrate our logistics by water, land, and air, and when the private sector speaks with a united voice, governments respond,” he said.
“But the continental free trade area will only work if we deliberately remove obstacles that slow down movement, production, and opportunity.”
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Rwabwogo’s comments echo the spirit of Agenda 2063, the African Union’s long-term blueprint for continental development.
Aspiration 2 envisions an integrated, politically united Africa, while Aspiration 5 speaks to a continent with a shared identity and common heritage.
However, progress remains slow.
The AU’s flagship initiative–the African Passport and Free Movement of Persons Protocol–was launched to eliminate the restrictive immigration policies that make Africans strangers on their own continent.
Despite public commitments by leaders, only a handful of states have ratified the protocol, and national visa regulations remain largely restrictive.
The initiative seeks to transform colonial-era border laws that continue to prevent Africans from freely travelling, working, or living within Africa. Rwabogo noted that until these laws change, the promise of pan-Africanism will remain rhetorical.
“Africa’s future will not be built through isolation but shaped by how boldly we open up to one another,” Rwabwogo added.
Although progress is limited at continental level, several African countries and regional blocs have taken steps to ease travel:
Countries with Full Visa-Free Entry for All Africans
These countries allow all African nationals to enter without a visa:
Rwanda (recently expanded to visa-free entry for all Africans and the world)
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Kenya (effective 2024, introducing an electronic travel authorisation instead of visas)
Countries Offering Visa on Arrival for All Africans
- Ghana (for AU nationals)
- Ethiopia
- Mauritania
- Cape Verde
- Comoros
Tanzania (partial; based on regional agreements)
Regional Free Movement Blocs
Some regions are more advanced:
ECOWAS (West Africa): Full visa-free movement for citizens of its 15 member states.
EAC (East Africa): Allows free movement for citizens of member states, though implementation varies.
SADC: Has partial visa exemptions within the region.
Despite these pockets of progress, large economies–including Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt–still maintain strict visa requirements for fellow Africans, slowing integration and undermining labour mobility.
Why the Debate Matters
Analysts argue that Africa’s economic transformation–especially under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)–cannot succeed without the free movement of businesspeople, workers, goods, and services.
Restrictive visa regimes increase transaction costs, discourage intra-African tourism, complicate supply chains, and reinforce the fragmentation that keeps the continent economically weak.
Rwabwogo’s call comes at a time when African businesses are urging leaders to align immigration policies with AfCFTA goals to unlock a market of 1.4 billion people.
