In a bold move to deepen regional ties and unlock new opportunities in tourism and trade, Tanzania has scrapped tourist visa requirements for Angolan citizens marking a new chapter in African unity.

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan made the landmark announcement on Monday during her state visit to Angola, standing alongside Angolan President João Lourenço in Luanda. The decision, she said, is rooted in a shared vision of regional integration and stronger people-to-people connections.

“I am pleased to announce the waiver of tourist visa requirements for Angolan citizens wishing to visit Tanzania,” President Hassan declared, drawing applause.

More than a diplomatic gesture, the visa waiver signals a commitment to building bridges across borders, with hopes of boosting tourism, trade, and cultural exchange between the two southern African nations. Both countries are members of the African Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and have maintained formal diplomatic ties since August 25, 1981.

President Hassan also paid tribute to the legacy of African unity, recalling the close historical bond between Tanzania’s founding father Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and Angola’s first president António Agostinho Neto.

As part of her visit, President Hassan is set to address the Angolan Parliament making history as the first female African Head of State to do so.

The visa waiver is more than policy it’s a signal of a continent moving forward together.