Some of the stakeholders at the event
The former Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Mali and Head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), El-Ghassim Wane, has voiced strong concern over the continuing visa barriers that hinder travel and trade among African countries.
Speaking at a High-Level Public Lecture on the theme “The Evolving Global Reset: Leveraging African Agency Through Pragmatic Options” organized by the Legon Centre for International Affairs and Diplomacy (LECIAD) at the University of Ghana, Wane described the current situation as “a shame for our continent,” lamenting that Africans still face greater difficulty traveling within Africa than citizens from outside the continent.
“Despite the progress we have made, traveling across our continent is still harder than it should be,” he stated.
“Africans require visas for nearly half of all intra-African trips—more, in fact, than citizens of many countries outside Africa. Often, when you arrive at African airports, you see Europeans and Americans moving through more easily than Africans themselves. It is a shame for our continent.”
Wane also drew attention to broader structural issues that continue to slow Africa’s economic transformation.
He noted that the continent’s exports remain dominated by raw materials, while its contribution to global manufacturing is minimal.
“Inter-African trade is still stuck at around 15%. Air transport within the continent is limited and about 50% more expensive than in most other regions of the world,” he explained.
He further highlighted that Africa faces an annual financing gap estimated between $70 and $110 billion and remains home to nearly two-thirds of the world’s extreme poor, a stark reminder of how far the continent still has to go.
Touching on governance, Wane cautioned that Africa’s political future remains uncertain, with democratic processes under growing strain and conflicts persisting across several regions.
He concluded by stressing that these challenges—ranging from visa restrictions to weak governance, tell a larger story of Africa’s immense potential still trapped by systemic constraints.