The African Development Bank has moved ahead on finalizing the first Africa Visa Openness Index. The Index ranks African countries on the level of openness/restrictiveness of their visa regimes. Its aim is to drive visa policy reforms across Africa, simplify visa application procedures and encourage positive reciprocity.
Facilitating the freer movement of people is anchored in the African Union’s Agenda 2063. The AU’s vision is matched by a call to action to introduce an African Passport and abolish visa requirements for all African citizens in all African countries by 2018. Now, the recent Valletta Summit of the European Union and a call from African leaders has renewed momentum to support migration initiatives across the continent.
“Promoting freer movement of people lies at the heart of Agenda 2063,” says Moono Mupotola, Director of NEPAD, Regional Integration and Trade at the African Development Bank. “We are working with African leaders to deepen regional integration, strengthen connectivity and drive talent mobility. The Visa Openness Index aims to inspire and inform policy-makers across Africa to build on the benefits of greater visa openness for countries, regions and for the continent.”
