Earlier this year, while receiving the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, disclosed that the country will follow the example set by Rwanda in making visitors from other African countries get their visa on arrival.

On Friday, 26th October, the Chief of Staff, in the Prime Minister’s Office, Fitsum Arega made a confirmation and announced that the visa on arrival to other African nations will take effect starting 9th of November.

The new development in Ethiopia will give the East African country the opportunity to receive more visitors. It will also allow for easy movement by other African citizens to Ethiopia.

Currently, Ethiopia offers e-Visa to visitors entering the country through Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa. The online processing started in June and travelers have been able to get their visas by applying via their website.

In Africa, Ethiopia has one of the largest National Carriers, Ethiopian Airlines which makes the airport a hub for Aviation; not just regionally by globally. Ethiopia seems to be leading many African countries.

“Ethiopia seems to have cracked this giant of Africa thing gaskiya. Gender equality, regional peace, airport hub for the continent and now visa on arrival for all Africans.” – Eremo Egbejule on Twitter

As at this year, many African countries do not give other African countries ease of movement to their countries. According to African Development Bank, just 25% of African countries offer visa on arrival.

”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 in the continent” 

Hopefully many more African countries will follow lead and allow citizens travel freely within the continent.