Togo’s announcement of visa-free access for all Africans has emerged as one of the most significant outcomes of the recently concluded Biashara Afrika 2026, reinforcing growing momentum toward regional integration, free movement, and stronger intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The development was highlighted by international development and trade expert Elydora Matubanzila, who described the policy shift as one of the most powerful moments of the event, reflecting both the opportunities and remaining challenges surrounding African mobility and economic integration.

Matubanzila, who participated in the event as part of the delegation of the International Trade Centre (ITC), explained that her own travel experience underscored the practical barriers many Africans still face despite existing regional agreements promoting free movement across the continent.

According to her, although she holds dual nationality and an ECOWAS passport, she still had to travel using her French passport and obtain an electronic visa to enter Togo, highlighting what she described as the gap between policy frameworks and real-world implementation of African integration.

Observers say the visa-free announcement by Togo represents a symbolic and strategic step toward reducing mobility barriers that have historically limited trade, business expansion, tourism, cultural exchange, and economic cooperation across Africa.

The Biashara Afrika 2026 event brought together major institutions, policymakers, development agencies, financial organisations, entrepreneurs, and trade stakeholders committed to advancing the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Participants at the event included representatives from the AfCFTA Secretariat, the Government of Togo, African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), African Development Bank Group, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, and several development and private sector partners working to accelerate intra-African trade and regional economic integration.

Matubanzila noted that one of the key highlights of her participation was co-facilitating a media workshop jointly organised by the International Trade Centre and the AfCFTA Secretariat.

The workshop focused on strengthening data-driven journalism and improving African storytelling around trade, development, and economic transformation.

She stressed the importance of Africans shaping and owning their narratives rather than allowing external actors to define the continent’s identity and economic realities.

Analysts say improving development communication and strengthening African-led media narratives are increasingly important in changing global perceptions about Africa’s economic potential and investment opportunities.

Another major outcome of the gathering was the renewal of a Memorandum of Understanding between the International Trade Centre and the AfCFTA Secretariat aimed at deepening collaboration on accelerating AfCFTA implementation, supporting small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), and improving practical trade facilitation measures across the continent.

Stakeholders at the event also focused heavily on SMEs, women entrepreneurs, and youth-led businesses, reflecting broader efforts to ensure that the AfCFTA delivers inclusive and practical economic opportunities rather than remaining only a policy initiative.

Matubanzila revealed that ITC supported 12 SMEs from across Africa during the event, helping them prepare for exhibitions, business matchmaking opportunities, peer-learning sessions, and engagements with buyers, distributors, and potential partners.

Observers say the emphasis on SMEs is critical because small businesses account for a significant portion of employment and economic activities across Africa but often struggle with limited financing, market access barriers, poor infrastructure, and cross-border trade restrictions.

Beyond trade and policy discussions, Matubanzila also reflected on Togo’s historical role in regional commerce, particularly through the legacy of the “Nana Benz” women traders who became iconic figures in West African trade history.

The Nana Benz were widely recognised for building successful textile trading networks and transforming commerce into a source of influence, identity, empowerment, and economic independence for women across the region.

According to her, the story of the Nana Benz remains deeply connected to broader conversations around African entrepreneurship, women-led trade, and economic resilience.

She disclosed that discussions with Togo’s Minister of Trade opened possibilities for a future awareness campaign focused on preserving and promoting the legacy of the Nana Benz in collaboration with the International Trade Centre.

Observers believe such initiatives could help spotlight Africa’s often underrepresented commercial history while inspiring a new generation of women entrepreneurs and traders across the continent.

Matubanzila also praised the continued growth of Biashara Afrika, describing it as a flagship platform for African trade, dialogue, and economic cooperation.

She commended the leadership of AfCFTA stakeholders and organisers for maintaining strong focus on SMEs, women, youth empowerment, and practical implementation strategies capable of delivering tangible benefits to African businesses and citizens.

Development experts say Togo’s visa-free policy announcement could serve as an important model for other African countries as the continent seeks to reduce travel barriers and strengthen regional integration under the AfCFTA framework.

For many stakeholders, the success of Africa’s economic integration agenda will ultimately depend not only on trade agreements, but also on the willingness of countries to ease mobility restrictions, improve infrastructure, harmonise regulations, and create practical pathways for Africans to do business across borders more freely.

As conversations around African integration continue to evolve, Biashara Afrika 2026 has further reinforced the growing belief that the continent’s future prosperity will depend heavily on collaboration, connectivity, and the ability of Africans to trade, travel, and innovate without unnecessary barriers.