Tanzania has cancelled visa-on-arrival for Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola citing security reasons. Earlier the government did the same for Nigeria, Djibouti and Ethiopia.
The decision of Tanzanian government comes amid such time when Africa is trying to promote for open borders with the Visa Openness Index 2018. Most of the countries have done little progress.
In East Africa, Rwanda has taken measures in opening up borders. Tanzania is ranked number 18, even below Somalia, in the Africa Visa openness Index 2018.
In the top 20 list seven West African countries have been placed in the index – Senegal, Mauritania, Cape Verde, Ghana, Guinea-Bissan,Togo and Benin.
With the cancellation of privilege people, apart from those who hold diplomat passport, coming from DRC and Angola need to apply for visa three months ahead of the travel.
The change in visa policy has also affected Pakistan, Yemen, Palestine and several other countries.
According to Immigration Department spokesman Ally Mtanda the measure has been taken in the best interest of security and Tanzania.
In recent years, following John Magufuli became the president, the country has cracked down on illegal immigrants. Many Ethiopians had been arrested en route to South Africa. Some have been deported and others are serving jail terms in the country.
Earlier this year Rwanda announced visa-on-arrival for all the people coming from African countries.
Rwanda’s Minister of State in charge of Economic Planning Claudine Uwere said, “Development and property will simply not be possible if we do not integrate.”