BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of Congo
The Republic of Congo will open its borders to all African nationals without visa requirements starting Jan. 1, 2027, President Denis Sassou-N’Guesso announced Monday, making it one of the continent’s most open destinations for intra-African travel.
Sassou-N’Guesso made the announcement at a ceremony marking Africa Day in Brazzaville, held alongside the opening of the African Development Bank Group’s 61st annual meetings.
He said the move would be subject to minimal administrative and security provisions.
“Starting Jan. 1, 2027, entry into the Republic of Congo will no longer require a visa for all African peoples,” Sassou-N’Guesso said.
The decision positions the Republic of Congo as an early mover on a commitment the African Union has long championed under Agenda 2063, which calls for a continentwide free-movement protocol and a single African passport.
When fully operational, the Republic of Congo will join a growing group of African countries, including Togo, Rwanda, Ghana, Benin, The Gambia and Seychelles, that have adopted full or near-full visa-free access for African travelers.
Sassou-N’Guesso framed the announcement as a contribution to African integration, citing the need to accelerate the free movement of people and goods and consolidate the African Continental Free Trade Area, or AfCFTA.
The AfCFTA, which covers a market of more than 1.4 billion people, depends in part on reducing border barriers that add cost and time to intra-African trade and travel.
“African countries have been capable of great victories, notably negotiating strategic partnerships, mobilizing adequate financing and accelerating their march toward development,” Sassou-N’Guesso said.
“We must persevere on the path of effort to give substance to the African Continental Free Trade Area, which proceeds from economic Pan-Africanism for the benefit of intra-African trade,” he added.
The Republic of Congo sits at the heart of Central Africa, sharing borders with six countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon and Gabon.
Its capital, Brazzaville, faces Kinshasa across the Congo River in one of the world’s busiest urban border crossings.
Africa Day marks the May 25, 1963, founding of the Organization of African Unity, the predecessor to the African Union.
