Rwanda Opens Its Doors As President Kagame Declares Visa-Free Travel For Africans

In a significant move to promote the free movement of people and trade within Africa, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda has announced that his country will offer visa-free travel to Africans.

Rwanda joins a growing number of African nations embracing this policy, mirroring Europe’s Schengen zone, which has eliminated passport and border control requirements across 27 European countries.

President Kagame unveiled this decision during a speech in Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, emphasizing Africa’s vast potential as a unified tourism destination.

Currently, Africa heavily relies on tourists from outside the continent, accounting for 60% of its total visitors, according to data from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

Kagame declared, “Any African can get on a plane to Rwanda whenever they wish and they will not pay a thing to enter our country,” during the 23rd Global Summit of the World Travel and Tourism Council.

He underscored the importance of focusing on the continent’s own tourism market, stating, “Africans are the future of global tourism as our middle class continues to grow at a fast pace in the decades to come.”

Rwanda joins Gambia, Benin, and Seychelles in eliminating travel restrictions for fellow Africans. Additionally, Kenya’s President William Ruto has also announced plans to allow visa-free travel to Kenya for all Africans by December 31.