"In this era of global instability, Africans must unite, integrate, and develop Africa for Africans." In Cameroon, electronic visas were rejected, forcing the team to drive ten hours back to Nigeria to reapply, Mubarak revealed. A visa-free Africa, he argues, would dramatically boost intra-African trade, complementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by removing the human mobility barriers that still choke cross-border commerce. According to Mubarak, tourism connects hospitality, transport, crafts, food, and entertainment--creating jobs and government revenue across value chains. "Visa-free Africa creates opportunities at home."

Source: Daily Observer January 19, 2026 23:15 UTC