Tanzanian passport ranked 2nd among EAC economies in latest Henley Passport Index ranking

The latest Henley Passport Index, a Global passport ranking has placed the Tanzanian passport in the second position scoring 101 trailing behind the Kenyan passport that was placed in the 98^th position.

The Kenyan passport has dropped its position in the latest Index ranking, despite recent efforts by the government to secure more friendly bilateral ties which include visa-free travel.

The global passport ranking placed Uganda in the 108^th position, Rwanda in the 120^th position, South Sudan in the 137^th position, Burundi in the 137 position, and the Democratic Republic of Congo 141th position.

In June 2023, the Visalit, an international visa ranking site released the global passport ranking, and the Kenyan passport is currently ranked at position 98 among the global passports.

Kenya is the only EAC economy thamade it to the top 100 in global ranking beating first-world countries like China and India while maintaining its spot as the most powerful passport in East Africa. Currently, Kenyans can travel visa-free to 43 countries and apply for a visa upon arrival in 22 countries.

Kenya was ranked position 98 in global standing tying with Suriname and one place above global powerhouses China and Thailand at position 99. India was ranked position 111 globally.

The Kenyan passport has dropped its position in the latest Henley Passport Index ranking, despite recent efforts by the government to secure more friendly bilateral ties which include visa-free travel.

Early this year, the index released ranked Kenya’s passport at position 73 globally, two steps drop from position 71 in the same period last year.

This month, Kenya has ranked position 98 in global standing tying with Suriname and one place above global powerhouses China and Thailand at position 99. India was ranked position 111 globally

According to Visalit, which compares the strength of these passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access, Kenyans can visit 43 countries without a visa, and Chinese citizens can only do so in 33 countries.

Chinese citizens also need to apply for a visa on arrival in 33 countries. China beat Kenya on only one indicator of passport strength whereby 132 countries require visas before Chinese citizens travel while Kenyans are required to do so in 138 countries.

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EAC countries challenged on meeting agric targets

With only two years remaining until the deadline set by the East African Community (EAC) Member States to end hunger in line with the continental agricultural development plan, hunger and malnutrition are on the rise, Members of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) have said.

During a plenary session held in Arusha on June 21, the lawmakers expressed concern about this situation, and urged the EAC Member States to take firm action to address it.

To this end, EALA adopted the motion urging the EAC Council of Ministers and the Partner States to fast-track the implementation of the 2014 Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agriculture Growth and Transformation of Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods.

It was moved by MP Woda Jeremiah from South Sudan, who said it would help EAC “to attain food security and rational agricultural development.”

MP Françoise Uwumukiza (from Rwanda), Chairperson of EALA’s Committee on Agriculture, Tourism, and Natural Resources in interview on the sidelines of EALA session in Arusha,  June 21, 2023 (Emmanuel Ntirenganya)

MP Françoise Uwumukiza (from Rwanda), Chairperson of EALA’s Committee on Agriculture, Tourism, and Natural Resources in interview on the sidelines of EALA session in Arusha, June 21, 2023 (Emmanuel Ntirenganya)

While justifying the motion, Jeremiah said that the Community has highlighted food security and nutrition as one of the strategic development objectives of the Community in the 6th EAC Development Strategy 2021/2022- 2025/26 and pledged to eliminate hunger, malnutrition, and extreme poverty in the East African region by the year 2023.

She recalled the commitment of the Partner States under the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP), which enshrines Africa’s policy framework for agricultural transformation, wealth creation, food security and nutrition security and economic growth agenda.

She underscored the related seven commitments expressed in the Malabo Declaration as a pledge to provide direction for Africa’s agriculture transformation for the period 2015 – 2025.

These include ending hunger in Africa by 2025, reducing poverty, and enhancing resilience to climate change and related risks, such as through irrigating crops to deal with drought.

However, she was concerned that despite the multiple policy instruments and measures adopted by Partner States, “the regional performance in respect of the implementation of Malabo Declaration is still low and the Community is still faced with a high prevalence of undernourishment mainly caused by insufficient food supply or poor distribution and stunting among children under five years.”