Kenyan President William Ruto announced on Saturday that Kenya will lift visa requirements for all Africans by the end of 2023, in a move aimed at boosting trade and cooperation between African countries.
“By the end of this year, no African will need a visa to enter Kenya,” Ruto said while speaking at the summit of the world’s three major forest basins in Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of the Congo. “The time has come to understand the importance of doing trade between us.”
Ruto noted that intra-African trade remains low, and urged African countries to reduce customs tariffs and other barriers to trade. He also said that it is important to allow goods, services, people, and ideas to move freely across the continent.
“It is time we realize the importance of trading among ourselves,” Ruto said, adding that trade among East African Community countries has grown significantly since the removal of visa requirements and tariffs.
“We have visa regulations left, right, and center. Twenty-seven countries in Europe today, with 430 million people, have removed visas. We still have visas. Let me persuade us that it is time we on this continent realized that having visa restrictions amongst ourselves is working against us. When people cannot travel, businesspeople cannot travel, and entrepreneurs cannot travel, we all become net losers. I am very happy that now we are moving in the direction of eliminating visas amongst ourselves. Let me say this. As Kenya🇰🇪, by the end of this year, no African will be required to have a visa to come to Kenya. Our children from this continent should not be locked in borders in Europe and also be locked in borders in Africa,” Ruto added
We have visa regulations left, right and centre. Twenty-seven countries in Europe today with 430 million people removed visas. We still have visas.
Let me persuade us that it is time we in this continent realise that having visa restrictions amongst ourselves is working against… pic.twitter.com/DKBWHUzW90
— Kennedy Wandera (@KennedyWandera_) October 29, 2023Ruto’s announcement was welcomed by many African leaders, who praised him for his commitment to promoting African integration and development.
The lifting of visa requirements is expected to have a number of positive benefits for Africa. It will make it easier for Africans to travel, work, and study in other African countries. It will also boost trade and investment between African countries.
