Travel & Tourism: Encouraging visa easing across Africa — But more needs to be done

Francis Doku Opinion Jul - 26 - 2025 , 09:57 4 minutes read

There is a movement taking shape across Africa – quiet in tone, but radical in its implications.

A movement to break down the bureaucratic and psychological borders that have, for decades, made African travel an ordeal for Africans themselves.

It is the emerging visa waiver mentality, which could change the face of travel, tourism and integration on this continent forever.

Kenya’s bold signal

In recent weeks, news broke that Kenya was introducing visa-free travel for all African and Caribbean nationals, beginning this July.

According to the announcement, only Libya and

Somalia would be excluded, due to security concerns. If confirmed and sustained, it would be a landmark policy, allowing fellow Africans to enter Kenya without cumbersome visa forms, costly fees or endless embassy queues.

This move aligns with Kenya’s ambition to achieve five million tourist arrivals by 2027, a major leap from the 2.4 million recorded in 2024.

It is a strategic step that positions Kenya as a leader in opening its borders to the continent.

Ghana and Morocco Lead by Example

Kenya is not alone in shifting its posture. Just days ago, Ghana and Morocco signed a mutual visa waiver agreement, enabling nationals of both countries to travel without visa requirements.

It is a significant diplomatic achievement, not only for what it allows in terms of movement, but for what it represents: a growing confidence among African states to embrace one another.

This builds on Ghana’s earlier agreement with South Africa, signed in 2023.

The result has been remarkable – a 340 per cent increase in travel from Ghana to South Africa within a year.

That is a powerful message to the rest of the continent: when borders open, people move.

However, not all promising announcements have been followed by action. In December 2024, Ghana made headlines with reports that it would ease visa restrictions for all African nationals.

The news generated excitement and optimism.

But eight months later, the policy remains unimplemented and no official update has been issued.

A brilliant idea has stalled. One hopes it gets confirmed and activated soon.

This is a reminder that good policy must be backed by consistent execution. Without follow-through, we risk turning bold ideas into forgotten headlines.

Southern Africa embraces free movement

While West and East Africa are advancing policy reforms, Southern Africa is taking practical steps.

The newly elected president of Botswana recently championed and reportedly signed a free movement agreement with Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, allowing citizens to travel using only national ID cards, according to a news report.

No passports. No visas. Just freedom of movement.

This is precisely the spirit of Agenda 2063 – the African Union’s vision of a continent where citizens move, trade, collaborate and explore without being treated as foreigners.

Barriers beyond visas

Despite these positive shifts, African travel remains harder than it should be.

It is often easier – and cheaper – for an African to fly to Europe or the Middle East than to a neighbouring country. Visa processes are unclear, embassy appointments are hard to get and African travellers are too often met with suspicion by fellow African immigration officers.

Even when entry is permitted, the cost of travel is excessive.

On a recent trip to the DRC, I discovered that travellers must pay $55 to exit the country, as a security charge.

In Sierra Leone, one must pay $25 on arrival and $25 on departure.

These charges are more than administrative nuisances – they are economic barriers that punish travellers and stifle tourism and business.