Day 109: Visa Free Africa?

Photo by Ninno JackJr on Unsplash

This afternoon I spoke to an undergraduate student about immigration and development in Africa. She mentioned the Visa Free Africa movement, part of African Union’s Agenda 2063, “Africa’s blueprint and master plan for transforming Africa into the global powerhouse of the future.” Her questions made me realize how little I know about the intersection between two subjects I have studied separately.

In my travels in Uganda, I’ve met many Africans who were not Ugandan nationals — Kenyans, Rwandese, Tanzanians, and South Sudanese, among others. I never asked any of them about how they migrated to Uganda, whether they encountered trouble at the border, whether they could be removed by the Ugandan government.

I don’t like to be nosy — but I would love to know.

In reality, how easily can Africans live, move, trade, and work across borders? How would a Visa Free Africa change daily life for Africans?