In another move towards more African integration, Kenya and Senegal inked a bilateral pact that envisions visa-free travel between the two nations.
The pact was signed on Tuesday afternoon at State House Nairobi, with Kenya’s Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen and Senegal’s Foreign Affairs Minister Sheikh Niang signing the pact in the presence of Presidents William Ruto and Bassirou Diomaye Faye .
The agreement makes a way for citizens from both countries with regular or diplomatic passports to visit, transit, and live in either country for up to 90 days without a visa.
The development, campaigners add, will unlock new avenues for trade, tourism, and culture, linking the countries economically and socially.
In announcing the signing ceremony, President Ruto stressed the broader vision underpinning the agreement. “We renewed our bilateral alliance in peace, security, energy, commerce, and foreign affairs all for the ultimate purpose of promoting sustainable development between our states,” he elaborated. “The agreement to waive visas will facilitate people-to-people relations and promote tourism and trade.”
He further conceded that two-way trade is limited currently.
He pledged more negotiations to lift trade barriers, particularly on transport and internet connectivity. And with Kenya already co-hosting the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations with Uganda and Tanzania, Ruto asked Senegal to exchange experience in hosting large continental tournaments. “We promise joint exchange programmes coaches, players, co-hosting regional tournaments, establishing training camps,” he said.
In addition to the visa deal, the two leaders also addressed strategic partnership at the global and continental level.
Ruto requested Senegal’s assistance in institution reforms such as the African Union and the United Nations.
He cited such sectors as the African Court of Justice, the AU Commission, and peace and security operations as sectors that must be reformed by the two institutions.
President Faye’s visit to Kenya began at the weekend and included taking part in the celebrations of the country’s Mashujaa Day in Kitui County.
The visit is timely to bestow on this exercise more symbolic importance with both nations guaranteeing a better future of freer movement and cooperation.
