Benin, Rwanda, and Seychelles Lead in Visa Openness for African Travelers – Africa.com
The 2024 Africa Visa Openness Index (AVOI) highlights the differences in visa policies between African countries and their impact on regional integration. Benin, Rwanda, Seychelles and Gambia rank highest on the index, offering visa-free access to all Africans. Ghana is ranked fifth, while Cape Verde and Nigeria are tied for sixth. The policies of these three countries are mixed, providing visa-free treatment for some African countries and providing visas on arrival for other countries. Rounding out the top ten are Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania and Mauritius, which also have different policies. The report highlights how restrictive visa policies impede free movement, contradicting the aspirations of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. The report also highlights that low-income countries are generally more open to liberal visa policies, while high-income countries are more willing to accept liberal visa policies. Countries maintaining stricter regimes may be motivated by concerns about economic immigration. The findings underscore the need for greater cooperation to achieve seamless and integrated Africa.
source: business insider
