It is well known that travelling to certain African countries can be frustrating. The mere mention of some countries is often enough to put travellers off due to the numerous administrative procedures, transport issues and risks of corruption encountered. Fortunately, however, several States have recently revised their migration policies to make it easier for people to enter their countries, notably by introducing visa exemptions for African citizens.

Following the cabinet meeting on 11 September 2025, Burkina Faso’s Minister of Security, Mahamadou Sana, announced that African citizens would no longer be required to pay visa fees to travel to Burkina Faso. However, this does not mean that visas have been abolished, as administrative procedures remain in place, albeit free of charge.

From 1 January 2025, Ghana allowed all African citizens to enter the country without a visa. According to Guinée28.info, outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo made this decision to promote the creation of a single, homogeneous market within the continent.

The African Union’s primary goal is to create a visa-free Africa. Through its Agenda 2063, the AU strives for a politically united and integrated continent based on the principles of Pan-Africanism. In order to achieve this vision, it is crucial to eliminate the physical and administrative obstacles that impede the integration of the African people.

According to a publication by Africanews.fr on 14 July 2025, Kenya officially abolished visa requirements for most African and Caribbean countries with the exceptions of Libya and Somalia due to security concerns. This measure is intended to promote open skies policies and boost the tourism sector.

As President Paul Kagame pointed out in a statement reported by TV5 Monde, Rwanda also allows all Africans to enter the country visa-free. “African nationals can come to Rwanda at their convenience without paying any entry fees.”

Other countries, such as Benin, Gambia and Seychelles, have also opened their borders to Africans without requiring visas.

Many Africans have welcomed this policy of free movement and simplified travel conditions enthusiastically, seeing it as the gradual realisation of the pan-African dream championed by Kwame Nkrumah.