Intra-African Travel Remains Hampered by Visa issues and High Costs Despite Decades of Promises
DAKAR, Senegal – the ambition of seamless travel across Africa continues to face notable roadblocks, with visa restrictions, unofficial fees, and exorbitant flight prices hindering movement even as regional integration initiatives gain momentum. Despite decades of agreements aimed at boosting connectivity, travelling within the continent often proves more difficult and expensive than international journeys, according to reports and accounts from travellers and activists.
A recent investigation revealed inconsistencies in the request of visa-free travel within regional blocs. While citizens of Senegal and Gambia were permitted to cross the border freely, travellers from Nigeria and Sierra Leone were reportedly subjected to unofficial payments of 1,000-2,000 CFA (£1.30-£2.60) at the border.
Bureaucratic hurdles and limited infrastructure contribute to the problem. sparse rail links and slow cross-border bus services further complicate travel plans.However, experts identify visa requirements as a primary obstacle, noting the substantial revenue governments generate from application fees, insurance, and associated costs – funds often unrecoverable if a visa is denied.
The difficulties are stark even between countries with shared borders. Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the congo, for example, require travellers to purchase $50 (£36.80) visas on each side of their 1,449-mile border. Air travel within the continent is also disproportionately expensive; a one-hour flight between Abidjan and Accra can cost $500 (£368) – comparable to the price of much longer routes.
“Travel in Africa is such a mess,” stated Zambian activist Joseph Kalimbwe. “Even in Zambia, there’s always that black-on-black edge. chinese and Indians living in Lusaka don’t get targeted, but our immigration officers target fellow Africans from Burundi and the DRC. We must be able to do better as a people.”
The dream of frictionless intra-African travel dates back to at least 1998, with the adoption of the Yamoussoukro decision aimed at lowering airline ticket prices and increasing connectivity.However, nearly three decades later, full implementation remains elusive, hampered by high airport taxes, limited routes, and persistent visa restrictions.
The 2021 launch of the African Continental free Trade Area, intended to facilitate both trade and the movement of people, has also yet to be fully realized.
Efforts are underway to address these challenges. The Single African Air Transport Market, launched in 2018 and now boasting over 35 signatory states, seeks to fully open the skies of member countries, building on the principles of the Yamoussoukro decision. Some nations are also experimenting with revised visa policies.
Simultaneously occurring,individuals are taking initiative. Coco Em,a DJ,has founded ”Pass pass,” an organization dedicated to researching systemic barriers to travel and assisting visa applicants based on her own extensive experiance. Pass Pass recently partnered with Unseen Nairobi to host “Vuka Mpaka” (“cross the border” in Kiswahili), a cultural exchange connecting Kenyan creatives with peers across the continent.
“I’m tired of venting about the problem,” Em said. “I’m more focused on what solutions we’re trying to build.”
