Togo and Rwanda have signed a reciprocal visa waiver agreement covering all categories of passports, in a move aimed at facilitating travel and strengthening bilateral cooperation across trade, investment and tourism.
The agreement was signed late last week in Lomé by Togo’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Robert Dussey, and his Rwandan counterpart, Olivier Nduhungirehe, according to official statements. It allows nationals of both countries to enter each other’s territory without a visa, removing administrative barriers that have long been cited as a constraint on business and people-to-people exchanges.
Officials said the deal is intended to ease mobility for citizens, promote tourism flows and support closer economic ties between the West African and East African nations. It also seeks to deepen cultural and diplomatic relations between Lomé and Kigali at a time when both governments are prioritising regional integration and South-South cooperation.
The visa waiver comes as Togo and Rwanda step up efforts to expand cooperation in a range of strategic sectors, including digital technology, agriculture, trade, investment, green finance and energy. Those priorities were reaffirmed during high-level bilateral discussions held in January 2025, when both sides committed to translating political goodwill into concrete projects.
By simplifying travel procedures, the agreement is expected to benefit businesspeople, investors and professionals seeking opportunities in both markets. Officials from both countries have previously stressed that cumbersome visa requirements can discourage cross-border investment and slow the implementation of joint initiatives, particularly between countries located in different sub-regions of the continent.
More Read
The move also builds on earlier diplomatic engagements between Lomé and Kigali. In August 2024, Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé attended the inauguration of Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Kigali, where bilateral talks focused on broadening cooperation beyond traditional diplomatic exchanges. At the time, Gnassingbé urged both countries to diversify their partnership and take fuller advantage of opportunities created by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The AfCFTA, which aims to create a single market for goods and services across Africa, has been central to discussions on boosting intra-African trade and investment. Both Togo and Rwanda have positioned themselves as supporters of the agreement and have pursued policies aimed at improving the ease of doing business, attracting foreign investment and strengthening logistics and transport links.
Togo, which hosts the Port of Lomé—one of West Africa’s key deep-water ports—has sought to position itself as a regional logistics and services hub. Rwanda, despite being landlocked, has invested heavily in air transport, digital infrastructure and services, presenting itself as a gateway to the East African Community and the wider Great Lakes region. Officials say closer cooperation between the two countries could help link West and East African markets more effectively.
More Read
Transport connectivity has already been an area of collaboration. Since 2018, Togo and Rwanda have been linked by an air services agreement allowing RwandAir and Lomé-based ASKY Airlines to operate direct flights between Lomé and Kigali without restrictions on frequency. The agreement has been seen as a practical step towards improving business travel and tourism between the two capitals.
The visa waiver is expected to complement those air links by making travel easier and more predictable for passengers. Tourism operators and business groups have welcomed the move, noting that visa-free travel can help stimulate short-term visits, conferences and trade missions.
Across Africa, a growing number of countries are adopting reciprocal visa waivers or visa-on-arrival policies as part of broader efforts to encourage intra-African mobility and economic integration. Supporters argue that such measures are essential to unlocking the full potential of the AfCFTA, while also fostering closer political and cultural ties.
For Togo and Rwanda, officials say the agreement reflects a shared ambition to move beyond rhetoric and deepen practical cooperation, with mobility seen as a key enabler of trade, investment and long-term partnership.
