N’DJAMENA — Chad will eliminate entry visa requirements for all African nationals beginning Jan. 1, 2027, President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno announced on Wednesday, describing the move as a major step toward strengthening continental integration and promoting the free movement of people and trade.
Speaking at the opening of the African Water Forum in N’Djamena, held in partnership with the World Bank, Deby said the decision reflects Chad’s commitment to greater African unity and regional connectivity.
“The Chad of Toumaï, the cradle of humanity, opens its borders to all Africans from January 1, 2027,” the president said, emphasizing the country’s ambition to become a strategic gateway linking West, East, North and Central Africa.
With the policy change, Chad will become the eighth African country to introduce visa-free access for citizens of all African nations. Other countries that have adopted or announced similar measures include Rwanda, Benin, The Gambia, Seychelles, Ghana, Kenya and the Republic of the Congo.
The announcement was made during the African Water Forum, which gathered African leaders, regional organizations and international partners to discuss water infrastructure financing and expanding access to clean water across the continent.
During his address, Deby also urged international development partners to increase investment in the water sector and reaffirmed Chad’s commitment to a $3.8 billion National Water Pact, aimed at expanding hydraulic infrastructure over the next five years.
The visa-free initiative supports the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and complements the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), both of which seek to improve regional mobility, economic integration and cross-border trade. Despite these ambitions, many African countries still require visas for travelers from elsewhere on the continent.
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