Starting next month, citizens of Kenya and Benin will be able to travel between the two countries without a visa, under a new bilateral agreement.
The deal, signed at the UN General Assembly by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Benin’s Foreign Minister Oleshegun Adjadi Bakar, allows nationals to stay for up to 180 days.
In a statement shared on his official platform, Mudavadi described the deal as “a new chapter in Africa’s story of unity.” He added:
“What started two years ago as an ambition to boost tourism and trade across African nations has now become a reality.”
According to the terms of the agreement, ordinary citizens of Kenya and Benin will be able to visit each other’s countries visa-free for up to 180 days. Mudavadi emphasized that the initiative is about more than policy.
“The agreement is a powerful step towards deepening African integration and strengthening the bonds between our two nations,” he said.
The arrangement, however, comes with a caveat, diplomats and their families will continue to adhere to existing visa protocols in line with respective national laws. This provision underscores a balance between easing people-to-people movement and respecting formal diplomatic procedures.
Beyond tourism, the Kenyan government expects the agreement to boost trade and investment. By enabling longer stays, business communities from both nations will have greater opportunity to explore partnerships, tap into markets, and foster joint ventures.
“This framework fosters people-to-people connections, cultural exchange, and economic opportunity,” Mudavadi said.
The move aligns with the African Union’s broader Agenda 2063 blueprint, which envisions seamless mobility across the continent as a catalyst for integration.
While progress toward a continent-wide African passport has been slow, bilateral visa-free agreements such as this signal growing momentum toward achieving that vision.
Kenya, an East African hub, has in recent years championed open-border policies with neighboring states and now appears intent on expanding such frameworks across Africa.
Benin, on its part, has positioned itself as a gateway to West Africa’s vibrant markets, making the partnership strategically important.
In addition to the Benin deal, Mudavadi also disclosed that he had held a bilateral meeting with Yvan Gil Pinto, Venezuela’s Minister of People’s Power for Foreign Affairs.
The discussions, he said, focused on strengthening ties and advancing proposed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) that are expected to be signed soon.
“Our discussions focused on strengthening the friendship between our countries and finalizing proposed MoUs that will soon be signed to expand cooperation in key sectors,” Mudavadi noted. While details of the MoUs were not disclosed, officials indicated that they may cover areas such as energy, trade, and cultural exchange.
For many observers, the visa-free deal with Benin is more than a symbolic gesture. It is a tangible step toward dismantling barriers that have long hindered Africa’s economic and cultural integration. As Mudavadi framed it, the agreement is “a powerful step” that signals Africa’s readiness to move closer to the dream of seamless mobility across borders.
