African Development Bank Policy Dialogue in Abidjan Reframes Africa’s Debate on Free Movement
Africa’s drive to allow easier movement of people took centre stage on 12 December 2025 as the private sector and civil society met in Abidjan for a policy dialogue hosted by the African Development Bank and the African Union Commission.
The meeting marked 10 years of the Africa Visa Openness Index (AVOI), which tracks how open African countries are to travellers from within the continent. Participants, including private sector representatives, development partners and civil society groups, discussed how freer movement supports trade, jobs and regional integration, and why progress remains uneven.