O. R. SalahudeenWhen talking about the 20 most powerful passports in Africa, we’re not talking about the population or the large territory occupied by some big countries. Powerful passports could be a result of well thought out foreign policy, how a country is rated by the committee of nations, how seriously you take security challenges of your country, how you handled corruption issues in your country, the rate of acceptance by tourists visiting the country, the national currency, how beautiful and clean is the country. How you handle your environmental and health responsibilities. How well organised a country is and seriously how safe is the country, that is, are foreign visitors coming into the country feel very safe and have easy movements within the country. That’s the freedom of movement within the country without molestation or gagging.
Importantly, powerful passports show how you conduct your foreign policy, that is the principle of reciprocity, for example, if you close your door others will definitely do the same.
20 MOST POWERFUL PASSPORTS IN AFRICA
1. SEYCHELLES
The Island country located in the Indian Ocean northeast of Madagascar off the eastern coast of Africa occupied the number one position in the ranking of powerful passports in Africa.
Seychelles makes me believe that it is not how big or populous a country is but how you articulated your foreign policy.
In 2018, Henley and Partners Passport Index Global ranking, Seychelles ranked number 29th in the world with the ability of visa-free entry into 151 countries. That undoubtedly makes her number one of the 20 most powerful passports in Africa.
When most citizens of major African countries struggle daily to obtain a visa and enter the Schengen area, their Seychelles counterparts are having visa-free entry to Europe.
Furthermore, Russia and China with all their visa and entry restrictions enable only Seychelles and one other country visa-free entry. What a dream country.
2. MAURITIUS
An island country located southeast of the African mainland in the Indian Ocean
Mauritius with its attractive business programmes, numerous tourists friendly environment, beautiful beaches, a stable economy and government, occupied the second position of the most powerful passports in Africa.
In the 2018 Global Passport rank, Mauritius occupied number 32nd in the world and number two in the African continent.
As a citizen of this Island country, you have the freedom of visiting 146 countries visa-free or visa on arrival.
3. SOUTH AFRICA
One of the most important countries and the current biggest economy in Africa used to be the most powerful passports on the continent. South Africa used to be the preferred tourist and investment destination by many foreigners focusing Africa before 2009, however, things are changing, due to many factors, Seychelles and Mauritius are in the front, today.
Currently South Africa today global passport rank 56th and occupying the third position of the most powerful passport in Africa. Her citizens have the freedom of travelling to 100 countries in the world visa-free or visa on arrival.
4. BOTSWANA
A landlocked country in Southern Africa, famous for her Chobe National Park with the largest concentration of Elephants in the world and Victoria Falls. This country’s passport is the 4th powerful passport in Africa. In Global Passport rank, Botswana occupied number 62nd which means her citizens have the freedom to travel to 84 countries in the world visa-free or visa on arrival.
This is an enviable position as Africa is concerned.
5. NAMIBIA
A country located on the southwestern coast of Africa occupied an enviable 5th position as the most powerful passports in Africa. In Global Passport rank, Namibia occupied the 67th position which translated to facts that her citizens enjoy travelling to 76 countries visa-free or visa on arrival.
6. LESOTHO
A small landlocked country surrounded by South Africa, despite its size, is the 6th most powerful passport in Africa. In Global Passport rank, Lesotho achieved number 69th in the world which indicates her citizens have the opportunity of travelling to 74 countries visa-free or visa on arrival.
7. ESWATINI
A small landlocked country in Southern Africa, the Kingdom of Eswatini formerly known as Swaziland is famous for the Zulu Reed dancers, is currently occupying the enviable number 7th position in the powerful passports in the continent of Africa. In Global Passport’s rank, Eswatini occupied number 70th which translated to the fact that her citizen enjoys the freedom of travelling to 73 countries visa-free entry or visa on arrival.
8. MALAWI
This is another landlocked country situated on the southeast coast of Africa, popular for her Lake Nyasa now known as Lake Malawi with its varieties of wide life. In the current global passport rank, Malawi occupied number 71st and came 8th as the most powerful passports in Africa. In a nutshell, the Malawi passport empowers the citizens to travel to 72 countries visa-free or visa on arrival.
9. KENYA
This beautiful country in East Africa made popular by numerous long distant running athletes is the number 9th most powerful passport in Africa. In the Global Passport power ranking, Kenya occupied number 72nd and her citizens can travel to 71 countries visa-free or visa on arrival.
10. TANZANIA
An East African country with the Capital at Dodoma, occupied the 10th position in the most powerful passports in Africa. In the global ranking, Tanzania is number 73rd which indicates that Tanzania citizens have the freedom of travelling to 70 Visa-free or Visa on arrival. Interesting, ZAMBIA jointly occupies the 10th position with Tanzania.
11. TUNISIA
An Arab country located in North Africa is currently occupying the 11th position in the most powerful passports in Africa. In the global ranking, Tunisia is number 74th, which shows that her citizens have the freedom of travelling to 69 countries around the world visa-free entry or visa on arrival.
12. GAMBIA
The Gambia a small country on the west coast of Africa occupied the 12th in the powerful passports in Africa and global rank The Gambia is number 75th which means her citizens enjoys the freedom of travelling to 68 countries visa-free or visa on arrival.
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13. UGANDA
A country located in East Africa occupied number 13th in the most powerful passports in Africa and is number 77th in global passport ranking which shows that her citizens have the freedom of travelling to 66 countries visa-free or visa on arrival. Equally CAPE VERDE ISLANDS
A country located off West African coast occupies number 13th position as the most powerful passports in Africa and on the global passport rank is number 77nd which translates to the facts that her citizens enjoy the freedom of travelling to 66 countries visa-free or visa on arrival
14. GHANA
A country on the western coast of Africa occupied the 14th position in the most powerful passports in Africa and is number 78th in the global passport ranking meaning Ghanaians have the freedom of travelling to 65 countries visa-free or visa on arrival.
15. ZIMBABWE
A landlocked country in Southern Africa occupied the 15th position in the most powerful passports in Africa and 79rd in the Global passport ranking which is an indication that her citizens have the freedom of travelling to 64 countries around the world visa-free entry or visa on arrival.
16. SIERRA LEONE
A country in West Africa ravaged by war for many years jointly occupies the number 16th position with MOROCCO in the most powerful passports in Africa. 80th in Global passport ranking which shows that their citizens enjoy the freedom of travelling to 63 countries visa-free or visa on arrival.
17. BENIN REPUBLIC
A small coastal country in West Africa occupied the 13th position in the most powerful passports in Africa, and in global passport ranking Benin is number 81st, her citizens enjoy the freedom of travelling to 62 countries visa-free or visa on arrival.
18. MOZAMBIQUE AND SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE
These two countries jointly occupy the 18th position in the most powerful passports in Africa. On the global ranking proudly occupies number 82nd which indicates that their citizens have the freedom of travelling to 61 countries visa-free entry or visa on arrival.
19. BURKINA FASO AND RWANDA
The two countries jointly occupy the 19th position in the most powerful passports in Africa. They are number 83rd in the global ranking which shows their citizens have the freedom of travelling to 59 countries visa-free entry or visa on arrival.
20. MAURITANIA
A large country located in North-West Africa proudly occupies the 20th position in the 20 most powerful passports in Africa. Mauritania is number 84thin the global ranking shows that her citizens have the freedom of travelling to 58 countries Visa-free entry or Visa on arrival.
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Other passports with less than 60 visa-free countries:
21. IVORY COAST occupied number 85th on global passport ranking and have the freedom of travelling to 57 countries visa-free or visa on arrival.
22. GABON AND SENEGAL are number 86th on the global passport ranking and have the freedom of travelling to 56 countries visa-free or visa on arrival.
23. GUINEA AND TOGO are number 87th on the global passport ranking and have the ability to travel to 55 countries visa-free or visa on arrival.
24. MADAGASCAR, MALI AND NIGER occupied number 88th on the global passport ranking which shows that their citizens can travel to 54 countries visa-free or visa on arrival.
25. CHAD, COMOROS ISLANDS, EQUATORIAL GUINEA AND GUINEA-BISSAU jointly occupies number 89th on global passport ranking which translates to the fact that their citizens have the freedom of travelling to 53 countries visa-free or visa on arrival.
26. The CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC occupies number 91st on the global ranking which is an indication that her citizens have the freedom of travelling to 51 visas free entry or visa on arrival.
27. ALGERIA is number 92nd on the global passport ranking can travel to 50 countries visa-free or visa on arrival.
28. ANGOLA, BURUNDI, CAMEROON, EGYPT AND LIBERIA are number 93rd on the global passport ranking with the ability to travel to 49 countries visa-free or visa on arrival.
29. The CONGO REPUBLIC, occupied number 94th and her citizens have the freedom of travelling to 47 countries visa-free or visa on arrival.
30. NIGERIA AND DJIBOUTI jointly occupy number 95th on global passport ranking, which translates to the fact that their citizens have the freedom of travelling to 46 countries visa-free or visa on arrival.
31. ETHIOPIA AND SOUTH SUDAN jointly occupies number 96th on the global passport ranking and have the freedom of travelling to 43 countries visa-free or visa on arrival.
32. The CONGO DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC AND ERITREA jointly occupy number 98th on the global passport ranking and has the freedom of travelling to 41 countries visa-free or visa on arrival.
33. SUDAN occupies number 100 on global passport ranking and her citizens have the freedom of travelling to 39 countries visa-free or visa on arrival.
34. LIBYA is number 102 on the global passport ranking and her citizens have the freedom of travelling to 37 countries visa-free or visa on arrival
35. SOMALIA is the last on the list of the Africans modestly, occupies 104 positions on global passport ranking and Somalian citizens can only travel to 32 countries visa-free or visa on arrival.
That’s all on the 20 most powerful passports in Africa please note that list is not static, it keeps changing all the time, depending on the policy of a particular country. Whenever there’s a change be rest assured that we shall keep you posted immediately.
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