The African Visa Openness Index (AVOI) 2024 highlights the disparities in visa policies among African countries and their impact on regional integration. Benin, Rwanda, Seychelles, and The Gambia rank highest on the index, offering visa-free access to all Africans. Ghana ranks 5th, while Cape Verde and Nigeria share the 6th position. The three countries have mixed policies, offering visa-free access to some African countries and visa-on-arrival to others. Rounding up the top 10 are Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, and Mauritius, also with mixed policies. The report underscores how restrictive visa policies hinder free movement, contradicting the aspirations of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and AU Agenda 2063. It also highlights that lower-income nations are generally more open to liberal visa policies, while higher-income countries maintain stricter regimes, possibly due to concerns over economic migration. The findings emphasize the need for greater cooperation to achieve a seamless and integrated Africa.
SOURCE: BUSINESS INSIDER
