Republic of the Congo has announced plans to grant visa-free access to all African nationals beginning January 1, 2027, becoming one of the latest countries pushing for easier movement across the continent.

The announcement was made by President Denis Sassou Nguesso during the 2026 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank Group held in Brazzaville as African leaders marked Africa Day.

According to Sassou Nguesso, citizens of all African countries will no longer need visas to enter Congo from 2027 onward. He also urged African nations to move beyond what he described as “selfishness and nationalism” and focus more on regional integration through practical implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The move follows a similar announcement recently made by Togo, which declared on May 18 that African passport holders would no longer require visas for visits of up to 30 days, although travellers would still need to comply with security, immigration, and health regulations.

Other African nations that currently operate similar visa-free or open-border policies for African citizens include Ghana, Benin, Seychelles, The Gambia, Kenya, Rwanda, and Togo.