Ethiopia has announced a date for the start of a visa-on-arrival regime for all Africans. Africa’s second most populous nation will start the visa-on-arrival regime from November 9, 2018.
PM Abiy had earlier this year disclosed that following Rwanda’s lead, Ethiopia was going to allow a visa-free regime for all Africans. At the time, he was speaking at a state banquet held for his visiting Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame.
Abiy said: “The President (Kagame) invited all Africans to travel to Rwanda without visas, we will follow you very soon.” On June 1, the issuance of visas online for all tourists started.
Ethiopia boasts the continent’s best national carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, which has made the Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, not just a regional but a global aviation hub.
Ethiopia hopes the visa-on-arrival initiative would facilitate the economic integration of Africa by pushing tourist flow to a higher level and help advance conference tourism.
The east African country, which hosts the headquarters of the continental body, the African Union (AU), also hopes that the move will assist the AU’s initiative on the free movement of people. The AU urged all African countries to issue visa on arrival as of 2023.
