Who: The African Development Bank Group, through its Regional Integration Coordination Office; and the African Union Commission's Department of Health, Humanitarian and Social Affairs
What: High-Level Symposium on Advancing a Visa Free Africa for Economic Prosperity
When: 13 February 2026; 7:30am - 9:30am EAT (GMT+3)
Where: Radisson Blu Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
The African Development Bank Group and the African Union Commission's Department of Health, Humanitarian and Social Affairs will host a high-level dialogue on advancing visa openness in Africa.
Attaining Africa's integration aspirations depends on the ability of its people to move freely across borders. The 10th edition of the Africa Visa Openness Index released in December 2025 by the Bank Group and the African Union Commission, shows that only 28.2 percent of intra-African travel is visa-free. While progress has been recorded, more than half of journeys within the continent still require visas, and newer systems such as e-visas have introduced additional costs and administrative barriers.
As implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) accelerate, advancing the free movement of persons has become more critical than ever to unlocking trade, investment, tourism, and job creation.
Against this backdrop, the symposium will chart a more ambitious course for Africa's mobility agenda, highlighting practical reforms, regional experience, and pathways to accelerate implementation of free movement commitments.
Speakers include:
- H.E. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Former Chairperson of the African Union Commission (keynote address)
- Amma A. Twum-Amoah, AU Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development.
- Mesfin Tasew Bekele, CEO of the Ethiopian Airlines Group;
- Clare Akamanzi, CEO of NBA Africa
- Elias Mpedi Magosi, Executive Secretary of the Southern Africa Development Community;
- Andrea Aguer Ariik Malueth, Deputy Secretary-General of the East African Community;
- Gabby Otchere-Darko, Chair of the Africa Prosperity Network and convenor of Africa Prosperity Dialogues; and
- Ras Mubarak, Founder of the Trans Africa Tourism & Unity Campaign.
The session will be facilitated by Dr. Joy Kategekwa, Director of the African Development Bank's Regional Integration Coordination Office and Sabelo Mbokazi, African Union Commission's Head of Labour, Employment and Migration.
The symposium aims to inspire collective action toward a visa-free Africa, building momentum for ratification and implementation of the AU Protocol on Free Movement of Persons.
