Rwanda's President, Paul Kagame, has announced a significant move to grant visa-free travel to Africans in order to enhance the free movement of people and boost trade. This announcement was made during a speech in Kigali, Rwanda's capital, on November 2.
Rwanda's decision aligns with the goals of several African nations aiming for increased continental integration, similar to Europe's Schengen zone, which includes 27 European countries and eliminates the need for passports and extensive border controls at shared borders.
President Kagame emphasized Africa's enormous potential as a unified tourism destination but noted that the continent currently relies heavily on tourists from outside Africa, constituting 60% of its total visitors, according to data from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
Kagame declared, "Any African can travel to Rwanda at any time without having to pay for entry." He highlighted the importance of focusing on the continental market, expressing that Africans are the future of global tourism due to the rapid growth of the middle class in the coming decades.
Rwanda now joins other African nations, such as Gambia, Benin, and Seychelles, in eliminating travel restrictions for fellow Africans.
In a related development, Kenya's President William Ruto has also announced plans to allow visa-free travel to Kenya for all Africans by December 31.
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