We turn our attention to a story unfolding this week at the heart of the African Union in Addis Ababa, one that speaks to movement, identity, and the future of Pan-African unity.

Across Africa today, visa restrictions and rigid borders remain some of the biggest barriers to integration. They slow down trade, limit youth mobility, shrink opportunities for education and jobs, and weaken the cultural exchange that has always connected African peoples. In some cases, these borders even separate families whose histories stretch across colonial lines drawn decades ago.

But this week, that long-standing challenge is facing renewed scrutiny and louder demands for change.
In Addis Ababa, influencers, policymakers, artists, activists, and young leaders from across the continent are gathering for the High-Level Influencers’ Forum on Borderless Africa.

The forum, championed by Africans Rising under the African Union’s Agenda 2063, aims to reimagine an Africa where people, ideas, and creativity can move freely, strengthening a shared identity and boosting economic growth.

For many participants, the conversation has taken on new urgency. With the AfCFTA accelerating trade ambitions and youth driving innovation across regions, the call for a visa-free continent is no longer just an ideal; it is increasingly seen as a necessity.

WADR’s Imoh Edet is attending the forum and has been following these conversations closely.