Link to article: https://allafrica.com/stories/202509110239.html
Liberia and Rwanda have just signed deals for Visa-Free travel, trade, investment, and cultural exchange. These pacts are a step towards a more united Africa and improves upon the AfCFTA(African Continental Free Trade Area). This agreement will also make the priority of certain agreements more clear, improving cooperation and efficiency. It is also likely that Rwanda will seek to open a diplomatic mission in Kigali soon to further relations. Rwanda and Liberia also plan to share on security and regional threats to help with Liberia’s preparation to assume its seat on the UN security council. This new free travel agreement will encourage exchange of people and therefore new business and tourism. Further meetings will be had in coming months to solidify the partnership.
This agreement is going to open up a lot of options for the people of Rwanda and Liberia, but also the rest of Africa. This pact signals to the continent that these types of deals can be made and can raise Africa as a whole. This will improve an internal African continent cash flow, with less money going to foreign powers because of cheaper trade in Africa. Rwanda and Liberia created the deal, so they are both positive about it, although what other regional actors think is up to debate. This deal could also possibly open up to other countries in the future. Overall it will improve the region and only make better prospects for these countries and others.
These deals related to class in that they are creating new free trade and travel, like an economic IGO. Not only are they creating new connections, Liberia is joining the UN security council and strengthening the IGO. The pact is very similar to everything about organizations we’ve been learning about in class ,and explains how these types of larger movements and organization form over time.