Kenya Abolishes Visa Requirements for Africans

Kenyan President William Ruto has announced the abolition of entry visas for Africans till the end of the year, aiming to foster intra-continental trade, according to the Mauritanian news agency.

The announcement came during his address at the summit of the three major basins held in Brazzaville, Congo.

President Ruto emphasized that intra-African trade currently stands at a mere 15% as compared to 70% for European countries.

He criticized the low rate of trade among African nations and advocated for accelerating the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to overcome this disparity.

Highlighting the necessity for African nations to collaborate in facing the challenges ahead, Ruto pointed out that the continent possesses 65% of the world’s arable land, albeit underutilized, and holds 40% of the global workforce, thanks to its predominantly youthful population.

This move by Kenya, waiving visa requirements for Africans, is aimed at realizing the potential of collective efforts in tackling economic hurdles and utilizing the vast resources within the continent.