Russia is deepening its diplomatic and travel ties across Africa with plans to add four more African countries to its growing list of visa-free partners.
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, negotiations are underway with Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Eswatini to establish visa-free travel agreements.
Once finalized, the number of African nations open to Russian travelers will increase from 11 to 15, Izvestia reports.
The proposed deals would allow Russian citizens to stay in the partner countries for 30 to 90 days without a visa, marking another step in Moscow’s efforts to strengthen economic, political, and cultural cooperation with Africa.
The Russian Embassy in Mozambique confirmed that a draft bilateral agreement to abolish visa requirements for holders of ordinary passports has already been submitted to Maputo for review.
Analysts say Moscow’s move is part of a broader diplomatic realignment, as both Russia and many African nations seek to diversify their international partnerships.
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With European travel restrictions on Russian citizens still in place, Africa has become an increasingly attractive destination for tourism, trade, and investment.
Currently, Russians enjoy visa-free access to 11 African countries, including Morocco, Namibia, Tunisia, South Africa, Cape Verde, Mauritius, Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Seychelles, and São Tomé and Príncipe. The duration of stay ranges from 15 to 90 days, depending on the country.
Experts believe that beyond tourism, the expansion of visa-free travel will boost Russia’s trade and investment footprint in sectors such as energy, mining, agriculture, and infrastructure, where Russian firms are already competing with Western and Chinese players.
For African nations, the agreements represent an opportunity to attract investments and promote tourism while pursuing greater autonomy from Western economic influence.
As Russia continues to face diplomatic isolation from the West, its visa-free diplomacy in Africa highlights a shifting global order—one where new alliances are being forged through travel, trade, and shared strategic interests.
