Africa's Push for Borderless Travel Gains Fresh Momentum at AU Summit
The dream of moving freely across Africa without the hassle of visa applications has taken another significant step forward. At a gathering held alongside the 39th African Union Summit of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, senior leaders from across the continent made it clear that removing travel barriers is no longer just an aspiration — it is an economic necessity.
The High-Level Symposium on Advancing a Visa-Free Africa for Economic Prosperity was jointly organised by the African Development Bank Group and the African Union Commission. The event brought together policymakers, business figures, and development experts who all shared one message: if Africa wants the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to deliver on its promise, people must be able to cross borders as easily as goods.
This point was made strongly by Alex Mubiru, Director General for Eastern Africa at the African Development Bank Group. He argued that visa-free travel, combined with digital systems that work across borders and better-connected markets, would turn big policy goals into real economic activity. His words carried urgency. "The evidence is clear. The economics support openness. The human story demands it," he said, calling on governments to stop making small changes and instead commit to deep, meaningful reform.
The numbers paint a sobering picture. According to the latest Africa Visa Openness Index, more than half of all travel between African countries still requires a visa obtained before departure. For anyone working in the travel trade, this is a familiar frustration. Clients face long waiting times, expensive applications, and uncertain outcomes — all of which discourage bookings and limit the growth of intra-African tourism and business travel.
Former African Union Commission Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma spoke passionately about what free movement means for the continent's identity. "If we accept that we are Africans, then we must be able to move freely across our continent," she declared, pushing member states to bring initiatives like the African Passport and the Free Movement of Persons Protocol into full operation.
Practical proof that openness works came from Ghana's Trade and Industry Minister, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare. She described how her country's early decision to welcome African travellers without restrictive visa requirements has already delivered results — more business visitors, higher tourist numbers, and growing interest from investors. This is the kind of real-world example that should encourage other nations to follow suit.
The aviation sector also had its voice heard. Mesfin Bekele, Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines, made the case that visa liberalisation and air connectivity must move forward hand in hand. He called for the full rollout of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), a framework designed to open up African skies and allow airlines to serve routes without unnecessary government restrictions. For travel professionals, this combination of easier visas and better flight networks would be transformative.
Regional bodies are also playing their part. Elias Magosi, Executive Secretary of the Southern Africa Development Community, stressed the importance of building trust between nations through improved border management and shared digital information systems. Meanwhile, campaigners like Gabby Otchere Darko of the Africa Prosperity Network urged governments to back the "Make Africa Borderless Now" campaign and speed up ratification of key protocols.
The symposium ended with a symbolic but meaningful gesture. Attendees signed a "passport wall" to show their personal commitment to making cross-border movement easier for all African citizens. Both the African Development Bank Group and the African Union Commission confirmed they will continue working with member states and regional organisations to push this agenda forward.
For those selling travel across the continent, the message from Addis Ababa is encouraging but also demands patience. Real change will require governments to align their migration policies, invest in digital identity systems, and upgrade border infrastructure. The political will appears to be growing. The question now is whether action will match the ambition — and how quickly the benefits will reach the desks of agents booking cross-border African itineraries.
