In the just-concluded YouthConnekt Summit held in Kigali, President Paul Kagame returned to a subject that is dear to his heart; the visa bottleneck that is hindering African integration. That subject is always on top of the agenda whenever African leaders meet, but few have taken the first step in opening their borders. Rwanda walked the talk and removed visa applications for all African passport holders. Soon Ghana and Benin followed suit, but for many other countries, getting a visa needs acrobatic and patience skills. With the roll-out of the African Passport last year during the African Union Summit here in Kigali, expectations were high that countries would do away with visas once and for all, or at least get them on arrival. But that has not been the case. What is most puzzling is that every African leader is of the view that intra African trade is the main key to economic emancipation. But that has not been translated into action. All it needs is just a stroke of the pen. Political will seems to be the missing factor and no amount of meetings and summits will amount to much as long as that malaise is still around. As long as there will be no free movement of people, goods and skills many African countries will continue to wallow in poverty. But as President Kagame urged the young participants during the YouthConnekt Summit, they hold the keys to a better Africa. It is up to them to right the wrongs committed or omitted by their predecessors.
