True
975;
Score | 13
Anita Koske Masters' Student
city Würzburg, Germany
477
3231
34
20
In Africa 2 min read
Reimagining a Borderless Africa: Turning Barriers into Bridges
<p>The lack of freedom of movement within Africa is a long-standing challenge that fascinates and frustrates me; my first insight on Twocents was even about freedom of movement, haha. Unlike other regions, such as the Schengen Area in Europe, ASEAN in Southeast Asia, and Mercosur in South America, Africa remains full of travel restrictions that prevent its citizens from traveling freely across their own continent.</p><p>This reality underscores missed opportunities for economic growth, entrepreneurship, and deeper continental integration. As an Afro-optimist, I firmly believe in the transformative potential of a borderless Africa—where borders serve as bridges rather than barriers. Such freedom could fuel intra-continental trade, tourism, and innovation – fundamental for development. </p><p>However, the road to this vision is riddled with challenges. Even the AU goal of attaining a borderless Africa is on its agenda for 2063, a long, long time from now. Insufficient infrastructure significantly hinders progress. A glaring example is the lack of direct airline connections between regions like North Africa and East Africa. On a recent flight, I sat next to a Kenyan lady traveling to Morocco for work, but she had to first fly to Qatar, then back to the continent to reach her destination—just to highlight some of the logistical barriers within the continent. </p><p>As a result, Africa collects only about 2% of global tourism revenue, a stark contrast to regions like Europe where borderless travel fosters seamless movement and robust domestic tourism. In Africa, however, the dependence on international tourists from outside the continent remains high. This is a missed opportunity, as tourism isn’t just about leisure; it encompasses medical travel, business exchanges, and cultural connections.</p><p>The vision of a borderless Africa is not just idealistic —it’s a necessity for unlocking the continent’s potential. Do you think Africa can achieve this?</p><p><br></p>

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Do it scared! Do it afraid! Do it in December! Do it at 11pm! start on Friday! Just do it

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