
The Africa Prosperity Network (APN) has secured significant strategic partnerships with two of the continent's major aviation players, Ethiopian Airlines and Air Algérie Group, to advance the "Make Africa Borderless Now!" campaign. These collaborations, formalised through high-level discussions and cooperation framework agreements in Addis Ababa, aim to accelerate economic integration by dismantling barriers to the free movement of people, goods, and services. By leveraging the reach of these airlines, the initiative seeks to align with the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and foster a more connected and prosperous continent.
Central to the partnership with Ethiopian Airlines is the implementation of the Free Movement of Persons Protocol and the Single Africa Air Transport Market. Ethiopian Airlines' CEO, Mesfin Tasew, has highlighted that current visa restrictions remain a primary obstacle to intra-African travel and economic growth. To address this, APN is spearheading a massive public engagement drive, aiming to collect 10 million signatures in support of visa-free travel across Africa. The airline’s involvement is seen as a crucial step in transforming these policy ambitions into tangible experiences for African travelers and businesses.
Similarly, the agreement with Air Algérie Group emphasizes boosting air connectivity to facilitate participation in critical economic forums, such as the Africa Prosperity Dialogues. This partnership focuses on enhancing intra-African mobility as a cornerstone for unlocking the continent's vast economic potential. By removing trade and mobility barriers, the APN and its airline partners hope to improve livelihoods and ensure that the AfCFTA achieves its full transformative impact.
Beyond aviation, the "Make Africa Borderless Now!" agenda encompasses broader financial and security integration. APN leadership has called for increased mobile money interoperability across African central banks to simplify cross-border transactions. Addressing security concerns, the network pointed to the success of regional systems like the ECOWAS biometric passport as a viable model for continental adoption. As further meetings are scheduled to define the specific scope of these partnerships, the growing coalition signals a shift from rhetorical support for integration toward actionable, industry-led outcomes.
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