ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopia Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday announced that visa-on-arrival services for all fellow African citizens has been launched.
In a press statement, the foreign ministry said the Ethiopian government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, is working to realize a peaceful and integrated Africa.
"The visa-on-arrival services to all African citizens has been launched with the view to realize the vision of our founding father to see a peaceful and integrated Africa, where minds, ideas and markets are open to trade," said the statement.
"The issuance of visa on arrival for fellow Africans will clearly demonstrate our commitment to the ideals of free movement of people across the continent and integration agenda, which are also inscribed as objectives of the continental body, AU," the statement further said, referring to the African Union (AU).
The east African country, which hosts the headquarters of the AU, hopes that the move will assist the AU's initiative on the free movement of people. The AU urged all African countries to issue visas on arrival as of 2023.
Ethiopia also hopes the visa-on-arrival initiative would facilitate the economic integration of Africa by pushing tourist flow to a higher level and help advance conference tourism.
