A passport is a special book that the government gives an individual to enable them to travel to other countries which carries picture, name, birthday and some other details with a bunch of stamps in it from all the different places you’ve been, if you have been to other countries/places.
These passports can also allow their holders to travel to a large number of countries without having to apply for a visa in advance which can pose a significant advantage for business travellers, tourists and people who need to move frequently for other reasons.
Although there are other weak passports in Africa, below are five passports from African countries that are considered weak in terms of global mobility:
1. South Sudan:
As one of the world’s newest nations, South Sudan faces a unique set of challenges in terms of passport strength. Political unrest, ongoing conflicts and the establishment of diplomatic relations play significant roles in limiting the international reach of South Sudanese passports.
The South Sudanese passport provides limited visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to other countries, making it one of the weaker passports. As of 1 January 2017, South Sudanese passport holders had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 37 countries and territories.
2. Ethiopia
Ethiopia, with its rich history and growing economy, struggles with passport strength due to a combination of internal and external factors. Challenges include limited diplomatic ties, political instability and issues related to border disputes. These factors contribute to the restricted global mobility as its passport has limited visa-free access, particularly to Western countries.
3. Sudan
The Sudanese passport faces restrictions in terms of global travel with limited visa-free options, particularly to countries in Europe and North America. The Republic of Sudan, which started issuing electronic passports to citizens in May 2009, allows its holders visa-free access to 41 destinations worldwide.
The Sudanese passport is ranked 96th among global passports, according to the Guide Passport Ranking Index which is due to the degree of global entry it guarantees to Sudanese passport holders.
4. Eritrea
The Eritrean passport offers restricted access to many countries, limiting the global mobility of its citizens.
According to the VisaGuide Passport Index, the Eritrean passport ranks 189th in the world as of November 2023 . Eritrean passport holders can travel visa-free to 12 countries in the world. However, to enter the remaining countries, they must apply for a visa beforehand.
5. Libya
Due to political instability and security concerns, the Libyan passport faces limitations in terms of visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to numerous countries, affecting its global mobility ranking.
In conclusion, the weak passport strength of these five African countries is mostly linked to a myriad of factors, including political instability, diplomatic challenges, security concerns, and bureaucratic hurdles. As these nations work towards overcoming these obstacles, the hope is that their passport strength will strengthen, allowing their citizens greater access to the global community. Ultimately, fostering international cooperation and stability is essential for enhancing the passport power of these nations in the long run.