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Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has said that Africans will soon travel to his country without visas, following the Rwanda example.
He said the policy will open up the east African country to African visitors, and it will also ease the free movement of African nationals and boost tourism.
The plan was revealed during a state banquet hosted by Prime Minister Abiy for Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Ethiopia on a three-day state visit.
As part of the visit, President Kagame also toured Hawassa Industrial Park which has attracted 18 leading global apparel and textile companies.
Rwanda began new visa regime where nationals of all countries get a visa upon arrival without prior application.
The issuance of visa-on-arrival for all countries was widely celebrated by many across the continent, and on social media.
The two leaders commended the new system saying demonstrates how African countries are beginning to act on the implementation of the African Union's Act.
Some African countries are already implementing the 30-day visa-on-arrival policy recommended by the AU.
They include Kenya, Ghana and Zimbabwe.
The AU has appealed to countries to review their visa policies to "implement mechanisms allowing for the issuing of visas on arrival for citizens of Member States, with the possibility of a 30-day stay".
The Africa Visa Openness Index, a guide by the African Development Bank (AfDB) reveals how Africa countries remain largely closed off to African citizens.
According to AfDB, "on average Africans need visas to travel to 55% of other African countries, can get visas on arrival in only 25% of other countries and don't need a visa to travel to just 20% of other countries on the continent".
AfDB recommends that African countries should promote more visa-free regional blocs, push for greater reciprocity, and introduce more visa on arrival policies for Africans.
The AU has urged member states to champion the visa on arrival initiative, identified as "critical to facilitating and encourage intra-African trade and investments, as well as tourism.
AllAfrica.com
