In a move to Really enhance continental integration, the Republic of Congo has declared its intention to eliminate visa requirements for all African nationals from January 1, 2027.
President Denis Sassou N’Guesso announced this during the African Development Bank Group’s (AfDB) 2026 Annual Meetings in Brazzaville. He urged Africans to get over “selfishness and nationalism” and to work towards the free movement of people across the continent while speaking to delegates at the Kintele Conference Center.
“Citizens of all African countries will be granted visa-free entry and will no longer require a visa to visit Congo, ” he proclaimed, which was followed by a round of applause from the heads of state ministers diplomats, and investors in the room.
Plus African travelers of other countries, the new policy will allow Moroccan passport holders who need to get a visa on arrival entry without a visa. This move goes hand in hand with the continental integration driven through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and Agenda 2063.
Congo is yet another African nation which is on the way to relaxing travel restrictions. Seychelles and The Gambia have already been allowing visa-free entry to all African nationals, whereas Rwanda Benin Kenya, Ghana, and Togo have also implemented or extended simple entry policies Recently.
At the meeting, AfDB President Sidi Ould Tah encouraged African countries to strengthen their institutions and integrate economically at a deeper level. He asked that the focus be on building collective capacity, instead of dwelling on limitations.
If the country goes ahead with the plan, it will most likely attract tourists to Congo, Mostly to Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Odzala-Kokoua National Park which are renowned for their cultural heritage and natural beauty.
Besides, the announcement by Congo is expected to act as a catalyst for tourism development, Mainly attracting visitors to cultural heritage sites and nature reserves such as Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Odzala-Kokoua National Park.
The 2026 AfDB Annual Meetings are being held in Brazzaville with the focus: “Mobilizing Development Financing for Africa at Scale in a Fragmented World. “
