In a recent announcement made by Nairobi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) nationals can now travel to Kenya without needing a visa. According to Kenyan media, this new policy reflects Kenya's commitment to integrating the DRC into the East African Community (EAC) and facilitating their movement within the region.
Last week, a notice was issued to all diplomatic missions abroad and regional administrative heads in Kenya, notifying them of the change in policy.
"The government of Kenya has removed Democratic Republic of Congo from Category 2 to category 1 of the visa regulations in compliance with the East Africa Community Regulations of free movement of persons within the member states," the document read. "In this regard, Kenya has waived visa requirements for all nationals of the Democratic Republic of Congo effective September 1, 2023."
The East African Community is an intergovernmental organization consisting of seven countries in the Great Lakes region of East Africa: Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda, and the DRC.
The DRC joined the community in May last year, although some protocols, such as free movement and customs union, are not yet fully implemented.
While awaiting the complete realization of the protocols, including free movement, Kinshasa had previously relied on bilateral agreements with existing member states for visa arrangements. Kenyans have had visa-free access to the DRC under this arrangement.
The Congolese authorities have long awaited this visa waiver, recognizing the importance of facilitating the movement of people and goods within the EAC. The Minister of Foreign Affairs for the DRC, Christophe Lutundula, emphasized the significance of this measure, especially considering that most goods from the Indian Ocean pass through the port of Mombasa in Kenya. Additionally, goods also transit through Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.
Earlier, Minister Lutundula highlighted the reasons why the DRC seeks regional integration and success within the East African bloc. Five of their nine neighboring countries, including Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and South Sudan, are part of the EAC, making it a logical step for the DRC to align with this regional integration effort.