Ruto Drops Visa Restrictions For Eritrea

UPDATE Thursday, February 9: President William Ruto has announced that Kenya and Eritrea have signed a pact to permanently abolish visa requirements for their citizens.

"To facilitate growth in trade and connectivity between our people and business, we’ve agreed to abolish the requirement of a visa effective today. In this regard, we have instructed our Ministries of Interior to work on the modalities for the ratification of this directive," he announced.

Speaking during a joint address with his Eritrean counterpart Isaias Afwerki at State House, the Head of State further noted that Kenya will open a mission representation in Asmara, Eritrea, further instructing the Ministry of foreign affairs to commence the process of operationalizing this immediately.

"It is contradictory to put up borders with Visa requirements and yet try regional integration and trade. It is counterproductive for us to put hurdles that are confining our people to move and trade freely," he added.

Kenyans could visit another country in Africa visa-free after President William Ruto secured a deal that will see visa requirements lifted for the second time in a month.

Kenya and Eritrea on Friday, December 9 agreed to abolish visa requirements for their respective citizens in a move made to advance regional integration.

President William Ruto and his Eritrean counterpart Isaias Afwerki met in Asmara for bilateral talks before making the announcement, expressing belief in the new move improving bilateral relations as well as people-to-people ties besides entrenching regional integration.

Eritrean president, Isaias Afwerki hosts President William Ruto on December 9, 2022. /WILLIAM RUTO

“We will keep working together to promote regional trade and investment,” explained President Ruto.

The two leaders further decided to cooperate in the African Union in the “spirit of Pan-Africanism” where they agreed to consult on regional integration for the development of the two nations.

They also resolved to work together and consult on regional integration in efforts to safeguard regional peace, security and development in the Horn of Africa as well as underscored the importance of promoting regional trade and investment through developing regional land, sea and air transport.

President Ruto has been in the business of striking bilateral deals as a means of making travel between Kenya and a section of African countries easier through the abolition of visa requirements.

On Wednesday, November 9, he signed a deal with South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa removing the visa requirements for citizens between the two countries. Under the deal, Kenyans will travel to South Africa visa-free for up to 90 days a year starting January 2023.

"From January 1, 2023, we will have a different regime thanks to your personal intervention in this matter and the wealth of experience that has been brought on board by your officials.

"Kenyans holding ordinary passports will be allowed to enter South Africa on a visa-free regime of up to 90 days per calendar year," he announced.

Ruto added that he and Ramaphosa reached a deal that will introduce mechanisms for dealing with citizens from their respective countries who are found breaking laws in the host countries.

"The two countries have also agreed on a return policy when immigration laws are breached to make sure that bad elements that try to infiltrate our borders are dealt with firmly and decisively," he added.

He also noted that the two heads of states have agreed to develop a sustainable mechanism to identify, monitor and resolve non-tariff barriers that limit the trade potential between the two countries.

On the issues regarding Kenya Airways and South African Airways, Ruto revealed that he will make sure that the agreement signed by them manifests into a sort of 'brotherhood' airline.