Namibia to abolish visas for Africans

Free movement for Africans within the continent continues to gain traction after the African Union launched an African passport in July 2016. ILLUSTRATION | JOHN NYAGAH | NATION MEDIA GROUP NATION MEDIA GROUP

By The EastAfrican
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Namibia will soon become a visa-free country after the government revealed plans to scrap visa requirements for African passport holders.

The Cabinet last week approved the introduction of a visa-on-arrival policy as a first step towards abolishing the pre-entry pass.

The southern African country will join a dozen African countries that offer liberal access (visa-free or visa-on-arrival) to Africans.

The continental bloc, African Union, has set a 2018 deadline for the removal of visa requirements for all African citizens in all African countries.

Namibia has however not indicated when it expects to have attained the visa-free status.

African leaders are expected to approve for adoption a draft treaty establishing free movement around the continent at the AU Heads of State summit in January next year.

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