Rwanda announced on Thursday that it would allow Africans to travel visa-free into the country, becoming the latest country on the continent to announce such a measure aimed at promoting the free movement of people.
President Paul Kagame made the announcement in Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, where he touted Africa’s potential as a “unifying tourism destination” for a continent that is still 60% dependent on tourism. Mr. Kagame said,
“Any African can fly to Rwanda whenever they want, and they won’t have to pay anything,” Kagame said at the 23rd World Travel and Tourism Council Global Summit. Once implemented, Rwanda will become the fourth African country to lift travel restrictions on Africans.
Kenyan President William Ruto on Monday also announced plans to allow all Africans to enter the East African country without a visa by December 31, 2023.
The African Union launched an African passport in 2016 with much fanfare, saying it would rival the European Union model in “unleashing the potential of the continent.” However, only diplomats and AU officials have been issued the travel document so far.
