Intra-African migration is by no means a new phenomenon. Every  year, countless numbers of Africans move across borders for work, family or educational purposes. Yet behind the appealing vision of a continent united by free movement agreements lies a far more complicated reality, marked by economic, bureaucratic, and even psychological barriers. In this article, three African travellers share their individual personal experiences.

Costly but frequent journeys

Travel across Africa has become essential for many professionals, artists, and opportunity seekers. Yet for most, the high cost of travel remains a significant barrier to mobility.

“I don’t have a fixed travel schedule, but I usually visit other African countries at least three times a year. The main challenge is economic: the ticket prices are just too high. I’ve never had issues with immigration or customs,” explains Komi Amewunou, a Togolese editor at Afrobarometer, who lives and works in Togo.

“Moving from Lomé to Bamako was an extremely challenging experience. The journey itself was a true ordeal, “Transport costs range from 35,000 to 60,000 CFA francs, the numerous road taxes, excluding the various road taxes, particularly in Burkina Faso, where border fees can reach up to 15,000 francs. Then evidently, there’s the need to pay for food and other necessities along the way. Depending on the type of bus and the frequency of breakdowns, the trip can take anywhere from three to five days. Faced with such conditions, it becomes clear that the free movement of people within Africa remains a significant challenge. While goods may sometimes cross borders with relative ease, the same cannot yet be said for individuals. There are still far too many obstacles, especially administrative and financial ones to overcome,” recounts Valère A., a Beninese secondary school teacher now living in Bamako.

The harsh border realities 

Despite treaties on free movement between African States, many citizens feel like strangers on their own continent. There is a strong sense of exclusion when crossing borders.

Luc Akoumany, a Togolese photographer and filmmaker, frequently travels across Africa for his work. He speaks candidly about the challenges he often faces on his trips.

“As a photographer and director, I’ve had the chance to collaborate with artists and institutions in various countries. But there are many obstacles. Immigration procedures are often long and, at times, unpredictable. In some cases, there’s little to no information about entry requirements. And sometimes, you’re treated like a foreigner in another African country, even though you’re African. That’s a painful feeling to deal with.”

Valère continued: “The Free movement of people remains a major challenge in Africa. Although goods can sometimes cross borders with relative ease, the same cannot yet be said for citizens”.

Over time, many had hoped for improvements in border procedures across the continent. But progress has been slow, particularly when it comes to land travel.

“I haven’t noticed any real change,” adds Komi Amewunou. “I usually make these trips by air. Maybe things are evolving on the ground, but by land, change is still lagging behind.”

A single African passport: reality or utopia?

The concept of a single passport for all African countries is receiving growing support, increasingly seen as a solution to the administrative and economic barriers that hinder mobility across the continent.

“A unified passport or the removal of borders would make cross-border exchange and collaboration much easier. It would also create more freedom to work without constraints. Too often, we miss out on opportunities simply because borders do exist,” emphasizes Luc Akoumany.

“A lot of things could change!” says Komi. “A single African passport or the removal of visa requirements would save us a great deal of time, money, and the bureaucracy issue. For instance, I find it hard to accept that a Togolese citizen has to pay around 60,000 CFA francs for a visa to enter Mauritania – and vice versa – simply because Mauritania is no longer part of ECOWAS. Another issue is the lack of a centralized visa system within sub-regional organizations. If a foreigner needs a visa, they should be able to pay once and use it across member countries. But that’s not the case. For example, if I travel to Cameroon with a Cameroonian visa, I can’t use that same visa to enter Gabon, even though both countries belong to the same regional bloc. I still have to pay for a separate visa.”

“I am not sure that Africa is ready to abolish administrative borders just yet, however, it can certainly start working seriously toward that goal,” says Valère. “We need to strengthen cooperation between States, harmonise migration policies, and simplify travel procedures. One practical step could be the introduction of a common passport for ECOWAS countries ((Economic Community of West African States) ), along with the establishment of clear rules to reduce excessive and abusive border fees.” Valère concluded.

Lack of information: an invisible barrier to free movement

Although many Africans have the legal right to travel within the continent, a widespread lack of awareness hinders the exercise of those rights. The complexity of regional agreements, combined with limited public information, makes implementation on the ground challenging. Komi laments this confusing reality, noting that it often opens the door to rights violations and abuse.

“I don’t think Africans are well informed about their rights to free movement,” says Komi. “And even when they are, they often feel powerless when faced with immigration officials who use their position to cause unnecessary delays during transit. In the ECOWAS zone, for example, citizens are supposed to move freely across borders, but in practice, that’s not always the case. Migration officers sometimes impose unofficial fees, which travellers are forced to pay just to avoid delays or complications.”

“Many people are unaware of the agreements between certain countries and that it’s actually possible to travel without a visa in some cases. If we were better informed, we’d be much more willing to travel,” adds Luc.

Rethinking mobility for a more unified future 

Mobility in Africa goes beyond infrastructure and regional agreements. It is a deeply human experience: lived in crowded bus stations, long waits at border posts, and through the burden of overpriced air travel. For the vision of free movement to truly become a reality, all related barriers must be removed: corruption, lack of information, administrative hurdles, and the everyday injustices people face while simply trying to move within their own continent.

“For citizens to move as freely as goods, we must improve transport infrastructure, raise awareness among authorities about travelers’ rights, and, above all, confront corruption along the roads,” emphasizes Valère.

One continent, one ambition, but still a long way ahead. Africa holds the potential to become a global model for free movement. But turning that vision into reality will require bold, concrete reforms, driven by its people and most importantly, championed by its leaders.