Traveling across Africa remains a significant challenge for citizens, including prominent business leaders like Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote. Despite his enormous wealth and influence, Dangote faces the complex and often frustrating visa processes that hinder mobility across the continent. This issue is widespread, with many Africans struggling to navigate cumbersome bureaucratic systems, outdated embassy websites, and conflicting visa policies.
Dangote, in a recent speech, shared his frustration with having to apply for 35 separate visas to conduct business across Africa. He pointed out that the time-consuming process of submitting passports to various embassies is not only inefficient but also an obstacle to his work. His case is not unique—numerous businesspeople have experienced similar difficulties when trying to attend important events or meetings across neighboring countries. One such individual, the head of a development lender, found it difficult to secure a visa to a southern African country, even after receiving an official invitation from the country’s president.
This bureaucratic red tape is often absurd. For example, citizens of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) require a visa to travel to the Republic of Congo, despite the two countries being separated by the Congo River, with capitals Kinshasa and Brazzaville only a short ferry ride apart. Such illogical requirements highlight the inefficiencies in the system.
The challenges are compounded by inconsistent or outdated visa information from embassies. In some cases, African embassies, such as the Nigerian embassy in the Central African Republic, fail to maintain up-to-date websites, making it difficult for citizens to access accurate travel requirements. Even countries like Ethiopia, which hosts the headquarters of the African Union, do not guarantee visa-free movement for all African citizens, further complicating cross-border travel.
While African nationals face significant obstacles, citizens from Europe or the United States often enjoy easier access to African countries, a situation that has led to a rise in wealthy Africans seeking second citizenships to avoid cumbersome visa processes. Citizenship and residency firms have even set up operations across the continent to cater to this demand.
The inability to move freely across Africa stifles economic and cultural ties, limiting intra-African trade, which accounted for only 15% of the continent’s trade in 2023. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), established to increase economic collaboration, highlights the need for easier movement of people and goods. However, despite the Free Movement of Persons Protocol, which was codified in 2018 to allow visa-free travel within Africa for up to 90 days, the agreement has not been widely implemented. Only 32 out of the 54 African nations have signed the protocol, and only four—Mali, Niger, Rwanda, and Sao Tome and Principe—have ratified it. This falls short of the 15-country threshold needed to bring the protocol into force.
Countries such as Benin, Gambia, Rwanda, and Seychelles are leading the way by offering visa-free travel for African citizens, but these exceptions remain rare. The continued imposition of strict travel restrictions is a significant barrier to Africa’s deeper integration. These obstacles are rooted in colonial-era decisions that divided the continent into arbitrary borders, many of which still shape modern-day policies. With nearly seven decades of independence, African leaders have little justification for maintaining these outdated systems.
Simplifying the movement of people across the continent is crucial for Africa’s growth. Regional blocs in East, West, and Southern Africa have already established the necessary frameworks for visa-free travel. The next step is for African countries to expand these initiatives and ensure the full implementation of policies that will facilitate greater connectivity, trade, and cultural exchange across the continent. By reducing barriers to movement, Africa can unlock its full potential, fostering stronger internal trade, economic growth, and regional cooperation.