Have you ever thought of an Africa where no African is considered a foreigner anywhere on the continent? What if every African can travel from Lagos to Addis- Ababa, from Namibia to Abuja without visa? What if all Africans were entitled as citizens of any country in Africa they go to? This is just not an option, it is call to action: visa-free Africa.
The African continent remains bound and may not thrive to its potential if it continues to hold onto the capitalist colonial policy of visa restrictions for the citizens of African. It is a borrowed inhuman culture, not an African culture or tradition to consider other Africans as visitors or foreigners in their own fatherland. Have you ever heard or seen North Africans coming to Africa and they would confidently tell you that they are visiting Africa. Then, the question is- are you not African and is North Africa not Africa? It sounds so funny but unfortunately, they go further to add, “Is that how you Africans do this or that”. These are some of the reactions caused by the colonial systems influence. And one of the ways to start correcting this is for Africa to gradually begin considering the Free- visa initiative despite the insecurity challenges and trans- border terrorism and arms smuggling in African. A Moroccan is an African, likewise a Tunisian and a Ethiopian, with a visa free Africa, Africans will be proud to call themselves Africans, and not discriminate against one another.
Africa has long been a continent divided not by culture or politics, but by human-made barriers imposed by colonial annihilation and influence. Today these borders remain reinforced by policies that enslaves Africans and treat fellow Africans as strangers under non person grata. While the Schengen visa policy of the European Union -EU and the superpowers move towards integration, with shared single currency, open borders, and unified markets- African restricts the movement of its own people. This must change.
Visa-free Africa is more than just you can imagine to be a policy, it is a post growth movement toward economic power, political strength and social l flourishing, If Africans can move freely across borders, they will trade more, learn more, invest more in Africa, and innovate smarter for the development and growth objectives. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will only reach its full potential when people can move as freely as goods and services within the continent.
Economically, visa-free or removing visa restrictions would boost and revitalize regional trade and commerce and businesses. It would empower small business owners, cross-border trades, tech innovators, and youth startups to expand without bureaucratic limitations. Tourism would be exceedingly boosted and flourished, and countries would benefit from shared investment, skilled labour exchange, and infrastructure collaboration.
To be continued (Part 2…)