Kenya, South Africa fail to agree on visa relaxation rules

Kenya, South Africa fail to agree on visa relaxation rules

There is still no firmed up deal on the relaxation of visa rules between Kenya and South Africa. Visiting South African President, Jacob Zuma, remained non-committal on whether Kenya’s request to issue visas on arrival in South Africa would be granted any time soon.

Zuma is concerned that Kenya’s proximity to Somalia and South Sudan may open flood gates for illegal immigrants who want to head to South Africa.

This was the first ever such visit by a South African sitting Head of State.

As it stands, South Africans can receive their visas on arrival in Nairobi and now Kenyans want the same favour under the principle of reciprocity.

“This is something the South African government will look into, because this is a privilege that Kenya already extends to South African nationals coming to Kenya. In our view there’s no reason why both of our governments cannot agree on exceptions of visas,” said President Kenyatta.

“There are obstacles that we have to remove. Because we cannot do it at a go, there are already steps that have been taken to people of a specific category who must not have problems to come into South Africa,” noted President Zuma.

President Zuma said that South Africa has to protect its own borders from illegal elements seeking refuge from and through Kenya.

“Both Kenya and South Africa have a lot of foreigners. Some of whom could use that possibility for not good reasons and therefore those are matters that need be looked at as we move forward and we must find solutions to those issues,” added Zuma.

But the security situation that bedevils Kenya’s neighbours is also of great concern to South Africa and her SADC trading bloc, a matter that both Presidents agree needs to be resolved speedily.

“Our relationship is called to bear the weight of a continent’s urgent expectations of peace, prosperity and dignity.  Our bilateral agreements help forge this bond, so that from it we can prove to be equal to the dreams of our forefathers, the hopes of our citizens, and to willingly shoulder responsibility for those unborn,” added President Kenyatta.

“The leaders on the continent have realised that the history of colonialism divided without our agreement. And, therefore, there is a broader agenda to soften the borders,” noted Zuma.

“We are also moving to integrate the five regions of the continent. Three have moved very far, which is where our two countries come from. That in itself indicates that the issue of borders and visas is being attended to.”

The candidature of Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary, Ambassador Amina Mohamed, for the post of African Union chairperson would go unmentioned despite it being a discussion at the bilateral meeting.

South Africa has been unable to offer its support in light of the SADC trading bloc fielding a candidate, Botswana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Pelonomi Moitoi.

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