The call for a visa-free Africa is gaining urgency as policymakers and business leaders increasingly recognize its potential to accelerate trade, tourism, and youth employment across the continent. Ras Mubarak, Campaign Lead for the Trans-Africa Tourism & Unity Campaign, emphasized that open borders could be a transformative tool for African economies, especially for young entrepreneurs and small businesses. His remarks came at a high-level symposium on Advancing a Visa-free Africa, held alongside the 39th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa.
Why Visa-free Africa Matters for Trade
The visa-free Africa agenda is about more than travel convenience; it is a critical lever for economic integration. Currently, only a handful of countries, Sao Tome, Rwanda, Nigeria, and Mali, have ratified the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, and Nigeria and Mali are temporarily suspended from implementation. For trade, this fragmented approach limits the movement of goods, services, and entrepreneurs, leaving potential value chains underdeveloped.
Mubarak stressed that Africans themselves contribute to slow progress by focusing too heavily on challenges rather than opportunities. “In many country reports, there is a focus on Africa’s challenges, and we as Africans have often accentuated these negatives, making it harder to build trust and encourage governments to open their borders,” he said. Promoting a positive narrative about the continent’s potential could accelerate adoption of visa-free policies, creating a smoother environment for regional commerce.
Open borders reduce logistical bottlenecks, lower transaction costs for exporters, and expand markets for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). For households, this translates into access to a wider variety of goods and services at competitive prices. Businesses benefit from a larger customer base and the ability to scale operations across borders without being hampered by costly visas or lengthy bureaucratic processes.
Tourism and Youth Employment Gains
Tourism, a major source of foreign exchange, could see significant growth under a visa-free Africa framework. Mubarak highlighted his own journey across 28 African countries over five months, visiting 31 cities, to illustrate the continent’s rich cultural and natural diversity. “When people move freely, governments may lose some visa fees, but this is offset by hotel occupancy, trade activity, and the jobs created,” he explained.
For young people, free movement is particularly critical. Open borders increase opportunities for cross-border employment, entrepreneurship, and exposure to regional markets. This mobility fosters skills development and innovation while reducing unemployment pressures in urban centers. Households benefit as youth employment translates into income generation, improved household consumption, and stronger economic resilience.
Policy and Implementation Challenges
Despite the clear benefits, significant barriers remain. Mubarak criticized the AU headquarters itself for charging a $50 visa fee, arguing that such practices undermine the broader vision of a visa-free Africa. He also noted that political will is uneven across the continent, with only a few countries, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa, capable of leading by example.
Successful implementation will require policy harmonization across borders, alignment of security and immigration protocols, and infrastructure to support cross-border trade. Governments must address practical barriers like multiple SIM requirements, banking access, and cross-border logistics, ensuring that the benefits of mobility are equitably distributed.
Implications for Businesses and Households
For businesses, particularly SMEs, a visa-free Africa lowers the cost of expansion and provides access to larger consumer markets. Entrepreneurs can scale more efficiently, diversify supply chains, and establish regional partnerships. For households, the economic benefits are felt directly through job creation, income growth, and increased access to goods and services. Free movement also encourages skills transfer and knowledge sharing, enhancing productivity and long-term economic stability.
Mubarak framed the visa-free Africa agenda as integral to achieving Agenda 2063, Africa’s blueprint for a prosperous, integrated continent. Open borders are not just a policy convenience, they are a catalyst for economic growth, youth employment, and continental cohesion. By enabling people, goods, and services to move freely, Africa can reduce economic fragmentation, increase trade efficiency, and create opportunities for millions of citizens.
The symposium underscored that achieving a visa-free Africa requires both political leadership and grassroots advocacy. Governments, private sector actors, and civil society must work together to harmonize regulations, remove bottlenecks, and showcase Africa’s potential to itself and the world. In doing so, the continent can unlock new pathways for growth, empower youth, and strengthen household economic resilience.