Russia is expanding its diplomatic and travel footprint in Africa, moving to add four African nations to its growing list of visa-free partners on the continent.
- Russia is expanding its diplomatic presence in Africa with a proposed increase in the number of visa-free agreements.
- Four additional countries, including Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Eswatini, are under negotiation for visa-free travel arrangements.
- These agreements would raise the total number of African countries with visa-free access for Russians from 11 to 15.
- The visa-free partnerships aim to enhance tourism, economic ties, and geopolitical cooperation between Russia and African nations.
Russia is pushing deeper into Africa’s diplomatic and economic landscape, proposing new visa-free travel agreements with several African nations in a bid to strengthen its influence on the continent.
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Russians may soon be able to travel visa-free to several additional African nations for stays of up to 30 to 90 days, with draft agreements currently under review, Izvestia reports.
The move would expand Russia’s visa-free network on the continent to 15 countries, further reflecting Moscow’s deepening diplomatic and economic engagement across Africa amid shifting global alliances.
According to the Russian Embassy in Mozambique, Moscow has presented a draft bilateral agreement to abolish visa requirements for holders of ordinary passports, which the Mozambican government is currently reviewing.
Visa-free diplomacy and Africa’s shifting alliances
Moscow’s move to establish visa-free regimes with African countries signals a broader geopolitical recalibration as African nations increasingly diversify their global partnerships.
Alongside Mozambique, similar agreements are being negotiated with Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Eswatini, all of which could soon allow Russian citizens to stay for up to 30 or 90 days without a visa.
Once finalized, these agreements will raise the number of African countries open to Russian travellers from 11 to 15.
The initiative reflects Russia’s intensified engagement with Africa amid strained relations with the West. As European travel restrictions for Russians remain tight, Africa has emerged as a preferred destination for both tourism and trade expansion.
Russian passport holders currently enjoy visa-free access to 11 African countries. They can stay in Morocco, Namibia, Tunisia, and South Africa for up to 90 days; Cape Verde and Mauritius for up to 60 days; Angola, Botswana, Malawi, and the Seychelles for up to 30 days; and São Tomé and Príncipe for up to 15 days.
Experts note that this growing network of visa-free partnerships not only encourages tourism but also facilitates business relations. Moscow’s trade and investment footprint has expanded in energy, mining, agriculture, and infrastructure, sectors where Russian firms increasingly compete with Western and Chinese counterparts.
For African states, the agreements represent more than just tourism opportunities; they are tools for economic diplomacy that help attract investments, diversify markets, and assert greater independence from Western economic influence.
