KENYAN President William Ruto revealed on Saturday that Kenya is set to remove visa restrictions for all African citizens by the end of 2023. This initiative aims to enhance economic ties and trade relationships among African nations.
‘At the close of this year, no African will require a visa to enter Kenya. It’s crucial to recognise the importance of fostering trade among us,’ emphasised Ruto while addressing the world’s forest summit in Brazzaville, which brought together leaders from the world’s major forest basins—the Amazon, Congo, and Borneo-Mekong.
Highlighting the low levels of intra-African trade, Ruto called for a reduction in customs tariffs within the African continent to facilitate the swift implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
‘The time has come for us to acknowledge the significance of conducting trade among ourselves, allowing the free flow of goods, services, people, and ideas across the continent,’ Ruto stated. He underscored the substantial growth in trade among East African Community countries due to the removal of visa requirements and tariffs.
In addition to trade facilitation, Ruto stressed the importance of acknowledging and offering incentives to countries situated in tropical forest basins for their efforts in forest protection, asserting that this stands as a smart climate action.
The Amazon basin in South America, the Congo basin in Central Africa, and the Borneo-Mekong basin in Southeast Asia collectively represent 80 percent of the world’s rainforests and contain approximately two-thirds of its biodiversity. These rainforests are not only critical for local ecosystems but also play a pivotal global role in regulating the planet’s climate and preserving life on Earth.
President Ruto’s announcement reflects a bold move by Kenya to foster stronger intra-African relations, aiming to elevate trade and economic collaboration while also acknowledging the significance of forest protection as a crucial aspect of global climate action.