To circumvent difficulties in getting visas from the embassies of Western countries in Africa, African youth made the proposal this Friday to Michaëlle Jean, General Secretary of the International Organisation of Francophonie of the creation of a francophone visa which will allow young people and/or diplomats to freely travel between the member countries of the organisation. The proposal was made by Andy Roland Nziengui Nziengui, president of the Youth National Council of Gabon, on Friday 28 August 2015 in Libreville during the opening session of the second edition of the African Citizens’ Summit dedicated to African youth. This forum is taking place as part of the New York Forum Africa 2015 initiative.

The hundreds of youth present hailed this proposal after Mr. Nziengui Nziengui related the misfortunes of young people being refused visas for France or Canada when they were going to attend forums to discuss the future of Africa. Andy Roland Nziengui Nziengui rose up against the fact that a lot of young African people from francophone Africa are excluded from many international forums. Hence his plea for the creation of a francophone visa. “So when will we have a francophone visa?” he called out to Michaëlle Jean.