Kenya and Angola agree on visa-free travels
Angolans intending to visit Kenya will no longer be required to have a visa, and vice versa, according to an announcement made by Kenya’s president, William Ruto.
The disclosure came following a meeting between President Ruto and his Angolan counterpart João Lourenço who is in Kenya on a two-day state visit.
Ruto said this has been made possible following the signing of the necessary instruments and trade agreements between the countries.
“We have agreed and I have undertaken to my brother-President Lourenço- that our brothers and sisters in Angola with their passports will now need no visa to come to Kenya,” said Ruto.
“I am very happy that the president has agreed that Angola will equally consider the same when they go back home,” he added.
Ruto termed this as a positive step that will enable the people from the two nations to forge firm ties that can help improve the way they do business.
In terms of trade, Ruto recognised that this has greatly improved from 60 million in the last four years to 350 million in 2022 and this year.
The trade numbers between the two countries, he said, are in favour of Kenya with 96 per cent of this being goods being exported to Angola.
The President also pledged to expedite and conclude discussions on resumption of direct flights to Angola.
“We believe there is tremendous potential and scope for the numbers to go up into billions and we have undertaken we will facilitate these exercises by making sure that they are not bilateral agreements but improve connections to facilitate greater integration,” he said.
This is the first-ever trip by an Angolan President to Kenya.
“I thank you for making this inaugural visit, the first by an Angolan Head of State in the history of the two countries. Your Excellency, you have corrected an anomaly that has existed close to 40 years that Kenya and Angola share a rich history,” Ruto said.
Source: The Star
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