The African Union welcomed Rwanda and Kenya's decisions to improve free trade across the continent.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame announced on Thursday that he would lift visa restrictions for all Africans wishing to visit the central African country.
With this launch, Rwanda becomes her fourth country in Africa.
``Make no mistake.'' President Kagame said in Kigaruki, ``Any African can board a plane to Rwanda at any time and there will be no entry fee.'' advertised the possibility.
Over the decades, several African leaders have considered the idea of free movement of citizens across the continent, even advocating a single African passport.
Libya's late Colonel Muammar Gaddafi was a strong supporter of the free movement of people and services.
Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta took a big step in his inaugural address in 2017, announcing that tourism centers would issue visas on arrival to all Africans.
"The more freely we can travel and live together, the more integrated we will be and the more we will appreciate diversity," Kenyatta said.
Rwanda is running a campaign to promote its tourism sector, working with European football clubs such as Arsenal and Bayern Munich to promote Rwanda as a tourist destination.
"We must not lose sight of our continental market," Kagame said.
"As the middle class continues to grow rapidly in the coming decades, Africans are the future of global tourism."
African Union supports Rwanda and Kenya's decision to improve free trade across the continent welcomed.
“I urge all African states that have not yet done so to take similar measures,” AU Commission chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat said on Twitter after Kenya`s announcement,” AU said.
Trade among African countries is at just 16 per cent, while trade among European Union states is at 70 per cent, Mahamat told AU trade ministers on Friday.
Several African countries have also entered bilateral agreements for visa-free travel, most recently Ghana and South Africa, and Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Post a Comment