President Denis Nguesso of the Republic of Congo has announced that African nationals will no longer require visas to enter the country from Jan. 1, 2027.

Mr Nguesso made the announcement during the celebration of Africa Day at the 2026 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group in Brazzaville.

The Congolese leader said the decision was aimed at promoting African integration, the free movement of people, and continental unity.

He urged African countries to strengthen solidarity and avoid “selfishness and narrow nationalism” in addressing development challenges.

According to him, Africa’s future depends on stronger regional cooperation, infrastructure development, and the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Mr Nguesso said Africa possessed enormous potential in natural resources, energy, forests, and water systems capable of driving global prosperity.

The president said that nearly 600 million Africans still lacked access to electricity and called for greater investment in transport, rail, maritime, and energy infrastructure across the continent.

He commended the joint “Mission 300” initiative of the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank Group, aimed at expanding electricity access across Africa by 2030.

Mr Nguesso paid tribute to African liberation heroes, including Patrice Lumumba, Kwame Nkrumah, and Nelson Mandela.

He said Africa Day remained a symbol of the continent’s struggle for freedom, unity, and prosperity. 

(NAN)