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The year 2018 is a historical chapter of Africa 's regional integration efforts. The launch of the African Continental Free Trade Area and the African Single Air Market are important steps in creating a regulatory environment that promotes air connectivity and makes travel faster, easier and cheaper. Africans in Africa.
The findings of the third edition of the report on the 2018 African Visa Transparency Index, published by the African Development Bank and the African Union Commission, show that African countries are becoming more open on average one to the other. The 10 most open countries and the 20 most open visa countries continue to improve their average scores, reflecting the more liberal visa policies of countries. In addition, 43 countries improved or maintained their score.
Benin has made the greatest progress in opening its borders to African travelers, moving from 27th place in the 2017 edition to the 1st place of the 2018 report. Zimbabwe has also been in the top 20 by introducing a policy of visa on arrival for SADC members. Overall, compared to 2017, Africans do not need visas to travel to 25% of other African countries (instead of 22%). can obtain visas upon arrival in 24% of other African countries (like last year); and need visas to travel in 51% of other African countries (instead of 54%).
"Regional integration and trade based on the free movement of people, goods, services and capital are at the heart of the activities of the African Development Bank"
Akinwumi A. Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group
However, the fact that Africans still need visas to visit a little more than half of other African countries shows that there is still room for improvement to ensure the free movement of people across the continent. As infrastructure grows throughout Africa and concrete opportunities for trade and investment are put on the table, Africans will need to move more easily. Solutions such as the African passport, visa-free regional blocks, multi-year visas or arrival visa systems should continue to be promoted.
"Looking at the recent developments of this year, such as the announcement by Ethiopia, Africa's diplomatic capital, of the establishment of a visa regime to the arrival for all African passport holders, Africa is indeed on the way to a transparent border and the free movement of its population.A meritorious work has also been devoted to the effective implementation of the African passport among citizens. "
Amb. Kwesi Quartey, Vice President of the Commission of the African Union.
The Visa Opening Index assesses progress made by African countries in easing their visa regimes. The Index analyzes visa conditions defined by each African Union member state for other member states wishing to enter their borders. The report aims to show at a glance which countries facilitate travel by citizens of other African countries and how; whether they allow people to travel in their country without a visa; if travelers can obtain a visa upon arrival in the country; or if visitors must obtain a visa before traveling.
The Visa Openness Index website is available at www.visaopenness.org
Download the publication: https://bit.ly/2KDifYQ
For more information, please contact:
African Development Bank: Chawki Chahed, Chief Communications Officer, email: [email protected]
Office of the Vice President Commission of the African Union: Doreen Apollos, Communications Advisor email: [email protected]
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