Reciprocity and inclusion. These are the key words of the visa policy that several African countries now wish to put in place. Starting with Senegal, which has just announced, through its Prime Minister, that the country now intends to apply “the principle of reciprocity for the issuance of visas to nationals of certain countries requiring it from our nationals”. States that impose “complex and expensive procedures the Senegalese will now have to expect the same”, cingle Seneplus.
For its part, Ghana has just announced the removal of the visa requirement for any African wishing to travel to its territory. Business Insider African recalls that the West African country joins Rwanda, Seychelles, Gambia and Benin in offering visa-free entry to all holders of an African passport. Until then, Ghana offered visa-free access to citizens of 26 African countries, while travelers from 25 other African countries could obtain a visa on arrival.
A strong gesture from the outgoing president, whose mandate will end on January 7, 2025, the date on which the newly elected president, John Mahama, will take power in Ghana. By opening a new area of free movement, it marks an important step towards achieving the African Union’s objective of economic integration.
An act of sovereignty
west staff reports, this December 27, the remarks of Ousmane Sonko during its general policy declaration before the National Assembly. The latter considers that the procedures for processing visa applications are “prejudice” to Senegalese nationals. One way of emphasizing, analyzing the title, is the imbalance, even the inequality, that Western policy induces with regard to visa requests from Senegalese, and more broadly African, nationals.
Indeed, asserts west staff, “the Senegalese, like many other Africans,
Senegal
