Why is it so difficult for Africans to travel within Africa? With an estimated population of over 1.4 billion people (17% of the global population) across 54 countries, the need for intra-African resource mobility has become elevated. Africans living in Africa face peculiar travel restrictions within Africa, with many African countries ranking very low on the AU’s Visa Openness Index. Africans still require a visa for 47% of intra-African travel. Connectivity is an essential key to economic and political integration in Africa, and easy travel plays a strategic connectivity role. By addressing the challenges of poor infrastructure, regressive immigration policies, high visa costs and lengthy processing times, African countries can unlock tourism, trade, investment, and growth opportunities over the next decade.
2023 World Africa Day –Improving Intra-African Mobility for Greater Good