Member states: Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda
IGAD’s Member States are mainly from the East African region, and all are also members of other RECs. Several rank in the top 20 on the overall index (Djibouti, Somalia and Ethiopia) while some of the lowest ranked on the AVOI, such as Sudan and Eritrea, also feature in this REC and contribute to the average. The region’s average visa openness score – and sixth rank position amongst the eight RECs – perhaps belies the fact that initiatives to free the movement of persons within the region are ongoing and include some recent progress in this respect (see regional reciprocity below).
While IGAD’s overall visa openness has shown upward progress in recent years, its lower score in 2024 compared to 2023 follows several changes implemented over the past year. Ethiopia has tightened its visa policy towards its northern neighbours and beyond, with citizens of Egypt, Eritrea, Libya and Sudan now requiring a visa ahead of travel, instead of qualifying for a visa on arrival. They form the bulk of the countries (altogether five) whose citizens Ethiopia currently requires a visa ahead of travel from – two of which are from IGAD.
While IGAD’s intra-regional visa-free reciprocity score is low (14%), and also lower than the other seven RECs, movement of persons within the region nevertheless remains fluid. IGAD Member States developed a PFMP in 2020. It was adopted by the IGAD Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs in 2021 and establishes a phased approach on the free movement of persons, and rights of establishment and residence, with phase one articulating the right of entry and abolition of visa requirements (Art. 4). Five member states have signed the Protocol: Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia and Uganda (the latter in May 2024)10. The Protocol enters into force after the fourth instrument of ratification has been deposited with IGAD. Member states have yet to ratify it. The Secretariat is focusing efforts on ratification of the Protocol. Implementation will boost the movement of persons and reflect favourably on IGAD’s regional visa-free reciprocity score.
Notwithstanding its regional Protocol, several bilateral agreements between member states help facilitate the movement of people, including between Djibouti and Ethiopia, Ethiopia and Kenya, as well as Uganda and South Sudan11.
10 igad.int 11 Perscom: Lucy Daxbacher, IGAD Secretariat
