Russia lists Morocco among its Key African partners in visa-free travel

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that Morocco is among the most important African countries with which Russia maintains reciprocal visa-free arrangements, noting that the Kingdom is one of the leading destinations attracting Russian tourists in North Africa, alongside Egypt and Tunisia.

The remarks were made by Tatiana Dovgalenko, Head of the Africa Partnership Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry, during a roundtable held at the State Duma on strengthening tourism cooperation with Africa. She revealed that Morocco is one of 11 African countries benefiting from visa-free travel with Russia, reflecting the Kingdom’s growing place within Moscow’s new approach to expanding its presence on the continent.

Dovgalenko highlighted that Morocco is among the few African countries with direct air links to Russia, along with Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Ethiopia, and the Seychelles—giving the Kingdom a privileged position in Moscow’s efforts to expand its air-connectivity network in Africa.

She added that Morocco is one of the most attractive destinations for Russian tourists in North Africa, as Russia seeks to correct the “geographical imbalance” in Russian tourist flows to the continent, noting that several new tourism cooperation agreements are currently being prepared.

Morocco’s inclusion among the countries benefiting from visa-free travel and direct air links with Russia underscores the Kingdom’s rising importance in Moscow’s foreign policy in Africa, particularly, as Rabat continues to diversify its partnerships and strengthen its continental presence, while Russia looks to Morocco as a safe and stable gateway to the continent.