Chad has become the latest African country to embrace visa-free travel for fellow Africans after President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno announced that the country will abolish entry visa requirements for all African nationals from January 1, 2027.
Another African country joins visa-free movement push, becoming the eighth to scrap visas for Africans
- Chad will abolish entry visa requirements for all African nationals starting January 1, 2027.
- President Deby announced the move to promote African unity and facilitate the free movement of people and goods.
- Chad becomes the eighth African nation to offer visa-free entry to all Africans, following countries like Rwanda and Kenya.
- The policy supports Africa’s trend towards removing travel barriers, in line with African Union’s Agenda 2063 and AfCFTA.
The announcement, made on Wednesday during the opening of the African Water Forum in N’Djamena, marks another step toward advancing continental integration and easing the movement of people across Africa.
“The Chad of Toumaï, cradle of humanity, opens its borders and abolishes entry visas for all Africans from Jan. 1, 2027,” Deby declared, describing the decision as part of Chad’s commitment to strengthening African unity and facilitating the free movement of people and goods.
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The president said the policy also reflects Chad’s ambition to reinforce its strategic role as a gateway linking West, East, North and Central Africa.
With the announcement, Chad becomes the eighth African country to grant visa-free entry to all African passport holders, joining Rwanda, Benin, The Gambia, Seychelles, Ghana, Kenya and the Republic of the Congo.
The policy supports Africa’s trend towards removing travel barriers, in line with African Union’s Agenda 2063 and AfCFTA.AFP
The move builds on a growing continental trend toward removing travel barriers between African nations, in line with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), both of which promote greater regional integration through the free movement of people, goods and services.
Despite these ambitions, visa restrictions remain widespread across much of the continent, with many African countries still requiring visas for fellow Africans or limiting visa-free access to members of regional economic blocs.
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Deby’s announcement came during the African Water Forum, which brought together African leaders, development institutions and international partners to discuss financing for water infrastructure and expanding access to clean water.
During his address, the Chadian leader also urged development partners to accelerate investment in the water sector and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to a five-year $3.8 billion National Water Pact aimed at expanding the country’s hydraulic infrastructure.
The visa-free policy is expected to strengthen Chad’s regional connectivity while supporting broader efforts to boost trade, tourism and economic cooperation across Africa.
