If you had the privilege to choose which African passport to hold, which would it be?

In this article, I will be laying emphasis on powerful passports in Africa according to most recent ranking in the Henley Passport Index. The firm’s Henley Passport Index measures the ease with which holders of passports are able to freely move from one country to another.

The ranking by Henley Passport Index is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which maintains the world’s largest and most accurate database of travel information.

The index includes 199 different passports and 227 different travel destinations. It ranks the world’s passports according to the countries their holders can visit without a prior visa.

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Below are the 10 most influential passports in Africa in 2022:

Seychelles
Seychelles’ passport remains the most powerful on the African continent for a consecutive year while moving up one place in a global ranking. Globally, Seychelles ranks 28th, moving up one place from the 29th position in 2021. Seychelles’ passport holders can travel to 152 countries visa-free.

Mauritius
Mauritius is an island nation in the Indian Ocean about 2,000 kilometers (1,200 mi) off the southeast coast of the African continent, east of Madagascar. Mauritius’ passport is the 2nd most powerful passport in Africa and ranked 31st globally. Mauritius passport holders can travel to 146 countries visa-free or visa on arrival.

South Africa
South Africa is a country on the southernmost tip of the African continent, marked by several distinct ecosystems. South Africa came in 3rd in Africa. The rainbow nation placed 51st globally and the country’s passport holders can travel to 104 countries without prior visa.

Botswana
Botswana is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is ranked 60 from its previous position of 62 in 2021. It is ranked 4th in Africa. Botswana passport holders can travel to 86 destinations without a prior visa.

Namibia
Namibia, a country in southwest Africa, ranked 66, Namibia has the 5th most powerful passport in Africa. A former German colony, Namibian passport holders can visit 78 countries without a prior visa.

Lesotho
A landlocked country encircled by South Africa, is crisscrossed by a network of rivers and mountain. Lesotho ranked 6th in Africa and 67 globally. Passport holders can visit 77 countries without a prior visa.

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Eswatini
Formerly known as Swaziland, Eswatini is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by Mozambique to its northeast and South Africa to its north, west, and south. Its passport holders can visit 74 countries visa-free. It is ranked 69 globally and 7th in Africa.

Malawi
Malawi, a landlocked country in southeastern Africa, is defined by its topography of highlands split by the Great Rift Valley and enormous Lake Malawi. Malawian passport currently ranks 8th in Africa and 70 globally and its passport holders can access 73 countries visa-free.

Kenya
The power of Kenya’s passport has declined over the years. From ranking 52 in 2006. Kenya currently has the 9th most powerful passport in Africa which occupies 71 globally while its passport holders can visit 72 countries without a prior visa.

Tanzania
Tanzania is an East African country known for its vast wilderness areas such as the plains of Serengeti National Park and Kilimanjaro National Park. It has the 10th most powerful passport in Africa. Ranked 72 globally, holders of its passport can access 72 countries without a prior visa.

Others include Tunisia, Zambia, Gambia, Uganda, Cape Verde in the 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, and 15th respectively.

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