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To make the dream of a more open and prosperous Africa a reality, 2018 was a good idea.
Leaders across the continent have signed the Continental Free Trade Agreement, which aims to connect a 1.2 billion-person market with a GDP of $ 2.5 trillion. Another milestone was also the launch of the Single Air Market Initiative, which describes a better connected and faster continent through air transport. Many countries, from Kenya to Ethiopia, Senegal and Namibia, have also relaxed their visa rules to allow Africans to promote open borders, trade, security and integration into the world. Africa as a whole.
Yet, the free movement of people and all the benefits that flow from it remain inaccessible to many Africans. The 2018 index of visa liberalization in Africa shows that Africans still need visas to travel to more than half of other African countries. Compiled by the African Union and the African Development Bank, the report shows that citizens of 35 countries, including Sierra Leone, Egypt, Morocco and Angola, need visas for travel in at least 26 countries.
Only citizens of Seychelles and Benin do not need a visa to travel to all the nations of the continent. Many African leaders and commentators were frustrated by a situation in which it is often easier for North American and European pbadport holders to travel to Africa than for Africans in many countries.
Even citizens of the same regional economic and political blocs are still struggling to travel. Only one regional union, the Economic Community of West Africa, fully allows its pbadport holders to move easily. The index noted that the lack of deep integration hinders the ability of regional alliances to generate sustainable growth, increase investment opportunities and give young people the opportunity to expand their opportunities. horizons beyond their country of origin.
The report showed that when countries open their borders, they are often rewarded. Among the 20 countries most open to obtaining visas, 18 of the 20 countries most open to visas have improved their overall performance in the Doing Business Index of the World Bank Group. The 20 most visa-friendly countries, including Ghana and Senegal, also posted an upward trajectory in terms of travel and tourism figures for GDP, visitor exports and investment. The lifting of travel restrictions in Rwanda has increased the number of visitors by 100%, with many entities organizing conferences in this country.
Yet, even as African countries liberalize their visa regimes, problems persist. These include access to visa information in different languages via the Internet and the gap between the announcement and the implementation of policies.
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