The call for a visa-free Africa has taken center stage at the 38th African Union (AU) Summit, with leaders urging swift action to remove visa restrictions that impede regional integration and economic development. The African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have jointly called for African governments to accelerate the removal of these barriers.
During the High-Level Strategic Dialogue on Accelerating Visa-Free Movement for Africa’s Transformation, held on 12 February 2025, SADC Executive Secretary H.E. Elias M. Magosi outlined the progress made within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). He noted that several SADC member states have already put policies in place to eliminate obstacles to the free movement of people, in line with the African Union’s Protocol on the Right of Entry, Right of Residence, and Right of Establishment.
Three SADC member states—Mauritius, Seychelles, and Zimbabwe—have exempted all SADC members from visa requirements, while 11 others, including Angola, Botswana, and South Africa, have waived visas for more than 10 members. Additionally, the Democratic Republic of Congo has exempted five member states from visa requirements. The region has also made strides with one-stop border posts and streamlined visa processes.
