African policymakers, business leaders, and development institutions have issued renewed calls for the implementation of visa-free travel across the continent, emphasizing its critical role in facilitating Africa's economic transformation under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). This significant push was made at a High-Level Symposium on Advancing a Visa-Free Africa for Economic Prosperity, an event co-convened by the African Development Bank Group and the African Union Commission. Held on the sidelines of the 39th African Union Summit of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, the symposium highlighted mobility as the crucial missing element in Africa's broader integration agenda.

Participants underscored that while tariff barriers are progressively being dismantled under the AfCFTA framework, persistent restrictive visa regimes continue to impede the free flow of trade in services, stifle investment, deter tourism, and limit labor mobility across African nations. Alex Mubiru, Director General for Eastern Africa at the African Development Bank Group, articulated that visa-free travel, coupled with interoperable digital systems and integrated markets, serves as a practical catalyst for enterprise, innovation, and the development of regional value chains. This, he argued, would effectively translate policy ambitions into tangible economic activities. Mubiru asserted, "The evidence is clear. The economics support openness. The human story demands it," urging countries to transition from incremental adjustments to truly transformative change.

Amma A. Twum-Amoah, Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development at the African Union Commission, advocated for the accelerated implementation of existing continental frameworks. She described visa openness as a strategic mechanism for deepening regional markets and strengthening collective responses to both economic and humanitarian challenges. Further reinforcing this sentiment, former AU Commission Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma reiterated that the principle of free movement is a foundational pillar of the African Union's comprehensive long-term development blueprint, Agenda 2063. She urged member states to operationalize key initiatives such as the African Passport and the Free Movement of Persons Protocol, stating, "If we accept that we are Africans, then we must be able to move freely across our continent."

Ghana's Trade and Industry Minister, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, shared Ghana's positive experiences as an early adopter of open visa policies for African travelers. She cited increased business travel, a boost in tourism, and heightened investor interest as clear early dividends resulting from greater openness. The symposium also delved into the findings of the latest Africa Visa Openness Index, which revealed that over half of all intra-African travel still necessitates visas obtained before departure. This statistic was unanimously viewed by participants as a significant impediment to the growth of intra-continental commerce.

Mesfin Bekele, Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines, called for the full implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), stressing that advancements in aviation connectivity and visa liberalization must proceed in tandem to ensure seamless travel experiences. Regional representatives, including Elias Magosi, Executive Secretary of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), emphasized the crucial need to build trust through effective border management and robust digital information-sharing systems. Gabby Otchere Darko, Executive Chairman of the Africa Prosperity Network, urged governments to lend their support to the "Make Africa Borderless Now" campaign, while tourism campaigner Ras Mubarak called for more ratifications of the AU Free Movement of Persons protocol.

In conclusion, participants at the symposium agreed that achieving a truly visa-free Africa will necessitate a concerted effort involving the alignment of migration policies, the development of integrated digital identity systems, and the enhancement of border infrastructure, all underpinned by sustained political commitment. As a symbolic gesture of support for accelerated reforms, attendees signed a "passport wall," signaling their commitment to making movement across African borders easier for citizens. The African Development Bank Group and the African Union Commission affirmed their ongoing commitment to collaborate with member states and regional bodies to advance coordinated approaches to mobility, which they view as a fundamental cornerstone of Africa's integration, competitiveness, and long-term economic growth.