AFRICA VISA FREE REGIMES ENCOURAGED MEETING AGENDA 2063,

AND ACCELERATE FREE MOVEMENT OF HUMAN, GOODS AND SERVICES, FOR BETTERMENT OF OUR CITIZENS AND REGIONAL

INTEGRATION

We Africa Speaks congratulate the Republic of Ghana for this historic move of introducing a visa-

on-arrival policy which allows all citizens of AU member states to visit the country and obtain visas at

a port of entry upon arrival for a stay of up to thirty 30 days. Africans are celebrating this policy

across the continent with a high expectation that other African countries will follow in the footsteps of

Ghana. On this note, we should not forget that pioneer countries like Rwanda, Mauritius and

Seychelles who introduced same visa free regime for African citizens and we are more than hopeful

than ever more countries to join the same path. On the other development, the East African

Community has introduced the New Generation Electronic Passport as a good sign moving forward

showing that the sub regional structures are in the right direction.

While Europeans and Americans are granted visa free into our shores, Africa is busy respecting and

implementing the Berlin Balkanization in the form of colonial boarders. We limit our own and

encourage untold suffering, with serious negative impact on trade among ourselves, causing billions

of US Dollars to be syphoned off our shores.

It is a considered view of Africa Speaks that Ethiopia, as the seat of the Africa Union should have

implemented a Visa free regime for all member states of the Africa Union long before any other

country. South Africa as the second biggest host country of the AU organs like Pan African

Parliament, The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), and African Peer Review

Mechanism (APRM), should ease and enter visa to facilitate African citizens to interact with these

crucial organs. Africa speaks encourage other African countries, members of the AU to follow suit,

for instance: Angola, Algeria, Cameroon, DRC, Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, and

Zambia etc.

Economic debate alone does not influence migration policies. Other considerations, including socio-

political aspects, also play a role. However, the cost-benefit analysis of increased mobility can have

an even stronger influence in shaping policies that can impact labor migration positively. There is an

array of literature and migration models on the economic impact of free labor movement.

Empirical evidence has demonstrated that, free movement will not only encourage economic

developments, it will encourage trade and create better opportunities and will drastically reduce

unemployment and inequality, nurture and significantly develop entrepreneurship among other

     

 

economic and cultural activities. Africa Speaks encouraged governments to embark on a visa free

regime without further delays. Those using issues of insecurity as an excuse should realize that they

are retarding the development of their economies and that of the continent as a whole. Continental

free movement of citizens will go a long way to guarantee the achievement and sustainability of AU’s

2063 goals and a successful Pan Africanist values.

Eventually, the visa restrictions mean that African countries are eluding out. One of the benefits of

free movement of people that the visa restrictions have obstructed is the tourism sector. Tourism

contributes to one in every eleven (11) jobs and 9% of gross domestic product worldwide. With high

youth unemployment, improved tourism could create thousands of jobs and help reduce inequality.

More visitors mean more hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, and a growth in transport and

entertainment sectors. The impact could be felt in both urban and rural areas according to Africa

Development Bank.

Currently, and according to Africa Tourism Monitor report, Africa accounts for about 15% of the

world population; it receives only about 3% of world tourism receipts and 5% of tourist arrivals. The

report further says that visa requirements imply missed economic opportunities for intra-regional

trade, and the local service economy (such as cross-country medical services or education). Visa

policies are among the most important governmental formalities negatively influencing international

tourism. Businesses beyond tourism are affected too. Any entrepreneur or investor, when choosing a

new country to venture into, one of the major considerations is the openness and ease of doing

business, with free movement of labor, goods and services as key indicators. That the continent

should emulate to attract foreign direct investment and local entrepreneurs to consider beyond the

border.

Africa’s economy cannot grow in isolation or by miracle. There is need for a realistic regional

integration via increased labor mobility. This will enhance the impetus needed to solve the socio-

economic challenges the entire region is facing. With proper strategic plans to tackle all these

impediments, we might as a result encounter better and more profitable initiatives and other related

policies to stimulate continental growth and transformation.

Visas therefore at times have been considered a necessary security measure to tackle the threat of

suspected illegal visitors who could pose a security risk to the country. Yet, governments and border

officials who are on the frontline of immigration disagree. When visa regimes have opened up, such

as in the case of Rwanda, no greater security challenges have been found, there has been no direct link

showing how free movement of people has perpetuated terrorism. A few bad elements should not be

used to restrict millions of good citizens who want to travel for leisure or business. “Simply, all the

     

 

border checks in the world will not keep us safe. Passport controls can’t stop the spread of ideas, and

it is ideas, not people, that are the essence of the terrorism that has killed so many around the world.”

Free movement in the continent is the best solution for the current challenges the young populations

faces extreme poverty, unemployment, inequality and frustration among others. We can’t turn a blind

eye thousands of frustrated youths who are drowning on the shores of Europe and Middle East in

pursuit of a greener pasture. Greed, disregard for the rule of laws and norms has created immense

social injustice in our respective countries. In the horizon, inequality and inter-generational poverty

has defined and confirmed Africans youths to a statistical figure nothing else.

The road to the first stage of the industrialization ambition in Africa is not doable only by erecting the

factories; the primary agenda should be creating a wider market place within the continent is a great

deal at national, sub regional and regional level based on our competency and strategic advantage for

economic growth. However unless we substantiated this noble idea with human and goods free

movement the whole effort will be zero-sum game. Considering such natural truth our respective

leaders should engage to make a priority implementing freedom of movement and visa free regime at

continental level.

With this note, Africa Speaks call on African leaders and all stakeholders to act swiftly in order to

reclaim Africa’s lost glory by focusing on the development agenda and expditing poltical and

economic integration with high priority for freedom of movement within our continet as pillar of

restoring our Pan African values. We have reafirm Agenda 2063 call to action to Introduce an

African Passport, issued by Member states, capitalizing on the global migration towards e-passports,

and with the abolishment of visa requirements for all African citizens in all African countries by 2018.

Africa belongs for all Africans ‼

Yours In Pan Africanism

Seife Tadelle Kidane President of Africa Speaks

Pretoria, South Africa. March-22-2016

Africa Speaks: UN ECOSOC Especial Consultative status and Africa Union ECOSOCC General Assembly Member: