Mohi El Din Salem, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Sudan, has emphasized the critical role of political action and practical solutions in advancing Africa’s free movement agenda, noting that mobility is not just about the movement of people, but also about trade, jobs, and market opportunities.
He made these remarks at the High-Level Symposium on Advancing a Visa-Free Africa for Economic Prosperity, a side event organised by the African Union Commission’s Department of Health, Humanitarian and Social Affairs and the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, during the 39th Summit of AU Heads of State and Government on Friday, 13 February 2026, at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Speaking during the segment titled “How Can We Move Faster Towards a Visa-Free Africa? and Why Mobility Matters for Regional Integration, Agenda 2063 and the Africa We Want,” at the High-Level Panel Discussion, Minister Salem highlighted the challenges posed by overlapping memberships in regional economic communities. “Four of our IGAD member states are also part of the African Continental Free Trade Area, as well as other blocs. This multiplicity of membership affects implementation. Kenya, for instance, has made significant progress, but across IGAD, only 21 percent of commitments on free movement have been realized,” he noted.
He underscored that the ratification of free movement protocols, while important, often faces delays due to legitimate concerns over security, sovereignty, and administrative management. To address this, he proposed the adoption of interoperable identification systems as a transformative measure. “We don’t have to wait indefinitely for full ratification. Digital solutions, including interoperable IDs, can operate in parallel to assure security and facilitate movement,” Minister Salem said.
The Sudanese Minister also called for the introduction of single electronic visas as a practical approach to improving regional mobility. Highlighting experiences within IGAD, he said, “Tourism and trade opportunities are being hampered by visa requirements. A single e-visa system could unlock these opportunities without waiting for full certification of agreements.”
Minister Salem further emphasized the role of continental leadership in accelerating integration. He called on the African Union Commission and other organs to provide clear guidance and oversight to ensure that policies cascade effectively from the continental level down to individual countries.
“Free movement is about more than people crossing borders it’s about enabling jobs, trade, and economic development. Practical, technology-driven solutions, supported by strong political will, can make a borderless Africa a reality,” he concluded.
