The Republic of Congo, known as Congo-Brazzaville, is set to join the other African countries that have opened their borders to African nationals without requiring an entry visa, the country’s president said.
Denis Sassou Nguesso said that the scrapping of visa requirements to his country will begin next year, in line with his commitment to pan-African ideals.
“From Jan. 1, 2027, entry into the Republic of Congo will no longer be subject to a visa for African nationals,” he said to loud applause during celebrations marking the 63rd Africa Day in the capital Brazzaville on Monday.
Nguesso underlined the need to accelerate the free movement of people and goods on the continent, to strengthen regional integration and to promote the use of a single African passport.
Africa Day celebrations
Africa Day, which falls on May 25, marks the establishment of the defunct Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1963, now the African Union. The day is used to reflect on unity and integration across the continent.
The Republic of Congo, a former French colony, is a smaller and less populous country than its neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo, a former Belgian colony. The Congo River separates the two countries.
Several dignitaries attended the event in Brazzaville, including Gabonese President Brice Oligui Nguema, the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Selma Malika Haddadi, and the president of the African Development Bank Group, Sidi Ould Tah, as well as diplomatic representatives and heads of African institutions.
During the event, tribute was paid to great African independence figures such as Patrice Lumumba of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana and South Africa’s Nelson Mandela.
A few African countries such as Rwanda, Kenya, Gambia, Seychelles and Ghana have taken a bold step to scrap visa payments for African nationals in a move analysts say demonstrates a new sense of unity across the continent.
