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Chad, Republic of Congo to offer visa-free travel to Africans from 2027
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Economy & Trade

Chad, Republic of Congo to offer visa-free travel to Africans from 2027

From Vanguard · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • Chad and the Republic of the Congo will abolish visa requirements for African nationals starting January 1, 2027.
  • These measures aim to strengthen African unity, promote free movement, and boost tourism and trade.
  • The moves align with broader efforts to achieve the African Continental Free Trade Area's goals, though visa restrictions remain a significant barrier.

African nations are increasingly simplifying travel for citizens across the continent, with Chad and the Republic of the Congo announcing plans to eliminate visa requirements for African nationals starting January 1, 2027. These initiatives are part of a broader push to foster tourism, trade, and economic integration.

Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby stated that the policy aims to strengthen African unity and make the free movement of people and goods a practical reality. Similarly, President Denis Sassou-Nguesso of the Republic of the Congo confirmed his country's decision to abolish visa requirements for all African nationals. These announcements were made during Africa Day celebrations coinciding with the African Development Bank Group’s 2026 Annual Meetings in Brazzaville.

The policy was aimed at strengthening African unity and making the free movement of people and goods across the continent a practical reality.

— Mahamat Idriss DébyThe Chadian President explained the rationale behind his country's decision to abolish visa requirements for African nationals.

The implementation of these visa-free policies is expected to enhance travel convenience, support business activities, and encourage greater economic cooperation. They also align with the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to reduce barriers to movement and increase economic collaboration. Despite these progressive steps, the African Development Bank’s Visa Openness Index indicates that only 28.2 percent of intra-African travel was visa-free at the end of 2025, highlighting that visa restrictions continue to pose a significant obstacle to seamless travel within the continent.

Togo and Rwanda are also mentioned as countries actively working to reduce travel barriers. Togo introduced visa-free entry for African passport holders on May 18, 2026, allowing stays of up to 30 days with an online travel declaration. Rwanda has a long-standing policy of facilitating easier travel for African nationals.

The country will abolish visa requirements for all African nationals from January 1, 2027.

— Denis Sassou-NguessoThe President of the Republic of the Congo confirmed his nation's commitment to visa-free travel for Africans.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Vanguard in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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