Addis Ababa / London — Feb 12 — Global Citizen Solutions (“GCS”), a leading advisory firm in citizenship and residency planning, published an article “Africa’s Emerging Citizenship Programs: Why Get an African Passport in 2026,” exploring how a new generation of citizenship initiatives is positioning the continent within the evolving global mobility landscape. As Africa deepens economic coordination and regional integration, citizenship frameworks are increasingly intersecting with broader objectives around investment, diaspora engagement, and long-term development.

The article examines emerging and evolving programmes across the continent, including initiatives in São Tomé and Príncipe, Botswana, Sierra Leone, and Egypt, highlighting how they reflect different models of economic positioning and policy design — from impact-oriented models to more established investment routes — reflecting distinct national development priorities. For globally mobile investors, African citizenship pathways provide geographic and geopolitical diversification beyond traditional programmes and proximity to the world’s fastest-growing market.

As the African Union Summit convenes this week, bringing together heads of state and policymakers to advance Agenda 2063 and integration priorities, GCS spotlights the strategic rise of citizenship and mobility pathways across Africa. Amid discussions on sustainable growth, infrastructure, economic resilience and integration, the evolution of citizenship frameworks on the continent signals a broader shift in how African states are positioning themselves in a competitive global environment.

For an overview of the global context, in December, the Global Intelligence Unit, GCS’ research department, published an analysis of Investment Migration programmes in a briefing entitled Global Overview of Investment Migration Programs and Beyond, mapping 113 active investment migration routes worldwide and revealing decisive shifts across the sector.