The richest man in Africa, Aliko Dangote, has expressed his displeasure with the strict visa regulations impeding travel within the continent.
The chairman and CEO of Dangote Group emphasised the bureaucratic obstacles he must overcome in order to travel across the continent on business, requiring the issuance of 35 separate visas.
During an Africa CEO Forum session in Kigali, Dangote, who is well-known for his large investments throughout the continent, voiced his complaints.
“As an investor, as somebody who really wants to make Africa great, I have to now apply for 35 different visas on my passport, and I told Mr President that I really don’t have the time to go and be dropping my passport at embassies to get a visa,” he stated.
Noting that foreign businesspeople frequently have easier access, he emphasised the difference in treatment between African nationals and foreigners. “I can assure you Patrick [Pouyanné, CEO of Total Energies] doesn’t need 35 visas… You don’t need 35 visas on a French passport, which means you have free movement than myself in Africa,” Dangote added, highlighting the bias in the visa system that favours non-Africans over Africans.
An important gathering that promotes business development through the sharing of knowledge and experiences is the Africa CEO Forum, which unites institutions, international investors, and African leaders. The main obstacle still stands to be visa restrictions, even with its goal of streamlining business operations throughout the continent.
Presently, only five African nations—the Seychelles, Gambia, Benin, Kenya, and Rwanda—permit visitors from other African countries to enter freely. With Ghana’s recent addition to this list, there has been a minor but notable advancement in intra-African mobility.
Dangote’s comments highlight how more African nations must enact laws that make it simpler for people to travel for business, as doing so could greatly accelerate regional integration and economic growth. Resolving these visa issues is still a top priority for policymakers as Africa looks to the continent for more development and investment.