By January 1, 2027, all African nationals will be able to enter Chad without a visa, the country’s leader announced during the African Water Forum in N’Djamena. This bold move underscores the government’s commitment to fostering free movement across the continent.
During the high-profile gathering of African heads of state and global figures, President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno unveiled a landmark policy shift that could reshape regional mobility. The decision reflects Chad’s strategic role as a crossroads connecting West, East, North, and South Africa.
In his address, the President emphasized the nation’s long-standing tradition of hospitality and integration, stating: “We stand in Chad, a crossroads of Africa, where human encounters bridge the continent’s divides. This is a land of welcome and unity, a champion of African solidarity.”
He further declared: “Beyond this gathering and in keeping with our vision for continental integration and the free flow of people and goods, I announce today that Chad—home to Toumaï, the cradle of humanity—will open its borders and eliminate entry visas for all Africans starting January 1, 2027.”
This progressive step positions Chad among a select group of African nations, including Benin, Togo, Rwanda, Ghana, Gambia, Seychelles, and Congo, that have already scrapped visa requirements for continental travelers. The move is hailed as a bold contribution to the African Union’s goal of seamless intra-African mobility.
