A pan-African advocacy group, Trans-African Tourism and Unity Campaign, has urged African leaders to dismantle visa restrictions and open borders across the continent, insisting that a borderless Africa is achievable by 2030 rather than the African Union’s (AU) target year of 2063.
Speaking at a press briefing at the Ghana High Commission in Abuja, the Team Lead of the group, Mr. Ras Mubarak, said visa-free movement was critical to unlocking the continent’s tourism, trade, and cultural exchange potential.
“The AU’s Agenda 2063 is far too long for a continent of 1.4 billion people, most of whom are under 30. We need to move faster to secure our future,” Mubarak stated.
The group is currently on a 40,000-kilometer, 39-country road trip across Africa to rally support for visa-free travel. They arrived in Nigeria after passing through Ghana, Togo, and Benin, and are scheduled to head next to Cameroon.
Highlighting some of the barriers to free movement, Mubarak said suspicion and corruption among African states continue to frustrate efforts to integrate the continent.
“Nigeria, as the giant of Africa, must lead by example by expanding visa-on-arrival policies, simplifying mobility protocols, and championing the AU’s free movement agenda,” he stressed.
Also speaking, the group’s spokesperson, Mr. Ima Santuri, praised Kenya and Benin for serving as models, as both countries currently grant visa-free entry to all Africans.
Santuri further noted that the high cost of intra-African flights was largely due to the lack of direct routes, excessive airport charges, and limited inter-African trade and travel.
The Trans-African Tourism and Unity Campaign is expected to complete its 163-day journey across 39 African countries and return to Ghana in January 2026.
