Kenya, Benin sign landmark visa-free travel deal at UNGA
By Kenneth Mwenda, September 25, 2025Kenya and Benin have signed a landmark visa-free agreement that allows citizens of both countries to travel without visas for up to 180 days.
The deal, revealed by Musalia Mudavadi via his X post on Wednesday, September 25, 2025, sealed on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, marks a major step in deepening African integration and strengthening people-to-people ties.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi signed the agreement with Benin’s Foreign Affairs Minister Oleshegun Adjadi Bakar.
The two leaders said the new framework will boost tourism, cultural exchange, and trade between the two nations. Diplomats and their families, however, will continue to follow existing visa rules under national laws.
“What started two years ago as an ambition to boost tourism and trade across African nations has now become a reality,” the post reads.
“The agreement, signed on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), is more than a policy, it is a powerful step towards deepening African integration and strengthening the bonds between our two nations.”
“Under this framework, citizens of Kenya and Benin will now be able to visit each other’s countries visa-free for up to 180 days, fostering people-to-people connections, cultural exchange, and economic opportunity.
Diplomats and their families, however, will continue to follow the existing visa procedures in line with respective national laws.”
Mudavadi described the deal as more than a policy document. He called it a bold move to unlock opportunities for ordinary citizens and to push forward Africa’s story of unity.
According to him, the agreement began two years ago as an idea to make travel across the continent easier and is now a reality.
The announcement came as Kenya used the UNGA platform to champion broader reforms in global governance.
Kenya pushes global reforms
Still on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Mudavadi joined fellow foreign ministers at the 49th Annual Meeting of the Group of 77 and China.
He reminded the gathering that the United Nations Charter remains the anchor of peace, development, and human rights, but warned that the current order sidelines developing nations.
“I underscored that the reforms we pursue, including the UN80 Initiative, should strengthen multilateralism, amplify the voice and representation of developing countries, and ensure greater equity in global governance,” Mudavadi posted on X. He further urged wealthier countries to close the financing gap for the 2030 Agenda by scaling up concessional funding and delivering long-standing aid commitments.
On climate change, Mudavadi said the challenge remains existential and called for more adaptation finance and faster technology transfer. He also pressed for global cooperation to bridge the digital divide and to ensure transparent governance of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale also spoke about health security in separate talks with US officials.
He reaffirmed Kenya’s nearly two-decade partnership with America through PEPFAR and the President’s Malaria Initiative, which provides life-saving HIV treatment to more than 1.4 million Kenyans.
Duale said future cooperation should emphasise sustainability and local manufacturing under the America First Global Health Strategy.
President William Ruto also made his mark at the UN, where he called for Africa to be given at least two permanent seats on the Security Council.
He accused the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank of biased lending practices that trap poorer nations in cycles of debt.
Ruto also signed a climate and economic partnership with California Governor Gavin Newsom, covering renewable energy, sustainable transport, and climate-smart agriculture.