Tunisia has officially joined the African Union's (AU) initiative for visa-free travel across the continent, becoming the ninth member state to do so. The country deposited its instrument of ratification for the protocol on the Free Movement of Persons with the AU Commission on April 4, 2026.
The protocol is a flagship project of the AU's Agenda 2063, aiming to create a single African passport and allow citizens to travel, work, and live across member states without visas. Its full implementation is seen as a key step toward deeper continental integration and boosting intra-African trade and tourism.
Prior to Tunisia's accession, the eight other countries that had ratified the protocol were Rwanda, Niger, São Tomé and Príncipe, Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Chad, and the Seychelles. The protocol requires 15 ratifications to enter into full force across the continent.
Analysts note that while ratification is a significant political commitment, practical implementation, including the harmonization of border controls and security measures, will be a complex and gradual process for all member states.
