Ruto Renews Push for Visa-Free Africa and Fairer Global Finance

President William Ruto has once again called on African countries to scrap visa restrictions, saying the continent cannot achieve real growth if its people are kept apart by travel barriers.

The Head of State appealed on Thursday, August 21, 2025, during the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) held in Yokohama, Japan. He told leaders that visa demands block the free movement of people and goods, hurting Africa’s trade potential.

“Another hurdle to our integration in Africa has been the requirement for visas to travel from one country to another, erecting further walls to travel, commerce and opportunities,” he said during an economy-focused plenary session.

Ruto pointed to Kenya’s recent move to open its borders to almost all African citizens as proof that scrapping visa rules can work. He explained that the decision has already improved business and mobility across the region, and that it matches the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which is supported by 47 countries.

“In Kenya, we have led the way by waiving visa requirements for nearly all citizens of African countries, enabling travellers to enter our nation without paying fees or the requirement of visas,” he said.

The President also argued that Africa must not only focus on easing travel. He said better roads, railways and air links are equally important in breaking down the barriers that have slowed integration for decades.

Turning to finance, Ruto criticised the global lending system, saying it continues to punish African economies unfairly. He faulted the influence of Western-based rating agencies, saying they push up borrowing costs by ignoring Africa’s specific needs.

“I have been a strong proponent of reform of the international financial architecture. The current global credit system often overlooks Africa’s unique realities and unfairly penalises our countries during global distress,” Ruto said.

He pushed for the creation of an African Credit Rating Agency that would offer more balanced evaluations and give African countries easier and more predictable access to capital.

The President further asked African states to invest more in trade with one another and to shift from exporting raw materials to processing their goods. He reminded delegates that agriculture holds the biggest promise for the continent.

“With 65 per cent of the world’s remaining arable land, Africa should not only feed itself but also feed the world,” he said.

Away from the plenary, Ruto met Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and pressed for greater access to the Japanese market.

He highlighted Kenya’s growing exports of products such as tea and avocados and called for the removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers. He noted that trade between the two countries grew by 33 percent in 2024, but stressed the need for fairer terms.

Ruto told the conference that Africa can only unlock its full potential by creating visa-free travel, building fairer financial systems, and strengthening trade within the continent. He said these changes would give Africa the power to stand on its own as a strong economic region.