African nations have pinned big hopes on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), a historic agreement designed to boost intra-African trade by more than 50 percent.
But as Instagram commentator @charmainesposts argues in a viral breakdown, the continent’s vision of a borderless market is colliding with harsh realities: expensive flights, rigid visa regimes, and political barriers that make free movement little more than a slogan.
“Every border checkpoint, visa delay and inflated ticket price is a tax on integration,” Charmaine told her followers. “If this continent wants a supply chain revolution, mobility has to be the starting point. Free movement on paper is nothing if the runways are still locked.”
The Cost of Crossing Borders
While a budget flight from London to Spain can be cheaper than a supermarket meal deal, traveling within Africa tells a very different story. For example, the short hop between Ghana and Nigeria — less than an hour’s flight — often costs £200–£300 for an economy return ticket. By comparison, passengers in Europe pay far less, thanks to deregulated skies and open competition.
The problem, industry leaders say, is Africa’s heavy tax regime and protectionist policies. Airline passengers in Africa pay an average of $64 in ticket taxes, rising to $94 in West Africa. In countries like Sierra Leone and Gabon, airport departure fees alone can reach $300 before baggage and fuel are even factored in. Despite being home to oil-rich nations, African airlines also face 30% higher fuel costs than the global average.
Many governments shield their national carriers from competition, effectively blocking low-cost airlines from emerging. “Planes half full, but tickets are fully taxed,” Charmaine said, calling for leaders to deregulate Africa’s skies under initiatives like the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM).
Visas: A Paper Wall
It isn’t just air travel that’s stifling Africa’s economic integration. Visa restrictions remain a major obstacle. African entrepreneurs and investors face hurdles that make scaling across borders nearly impossible. Even Nigeria’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has publicly complained that he needs 35 separate visas to travel the continent for business.
For young founders, the costs and delays can be devastating.
“You’re building a startup and you’ve got a queue at embassies just to go to a pitch meeting,” Charmaine explained. “We can’t talk free trade if founders need 10 stamps just to meet their suppliers.”
Politics vs. Policy
While the AfCFTA and Agenda 2063 envision seamless trade and mobility, execution remains bogged down by politics. Governments are reluctant to cede sovereignty over airspace and visa regimes, even as the lack of mobility undermines the very goals of economic integration.
“The skies are free,” Charmaine concluded, “but in Africa, freedom still comes with a fee, a visa, and a million stamps.”
Her post has sparked conversation online, with many echoing her view that Africa’s biggest bottleneck isn’t infrastructure or investment — but political will.
