Lead Campaigner of the Trans Africa Tourism and Unity Campaign, Ras Mubarak, has shared mixed experiences from a five-month journey across 31 African countries, calling for deliberate efforts to ease movement across the continent.
The tour, which commenced in August 2025 and ended in January 2026, formed part of a broader campaign to promote African unity, tourism, and cross-border integration among the continent’s 55 countries.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, Ras Mubarak said some of the realities on the ground differed sharply from public perceptions.
“The most surprising country in terms of what has been said and the reality is Equatorial Guinea. You go there and the streets are beautiful and very green. The place is nicer than what people have said about it,” he noted.
However, he described Cameroon as one of the most challenging parts of the journey, citing logistical and visa difficulties.
“The not-so pleasant country, Cameroon, stands out. We still have a vehicle which is on its way, stuck in Congo and we can’t get a visa to cross to come. It was so difficult,” he said.
Despite the challenges, Ras Mubarak said many African countries were largely welcoming, praising their people, food, and culture. He singled out Eswatini and Uganda for their hospitality.
“Eswatini was very welcoming and friendly. Ugandans also behave like Ghanaians in the way they welcome people and their mannerism. The Ghanaians who are in Uganda are doing very well,” he added.
He expressed concern about persistent difficulties in several francophone countries, even when travellers have valid documentation.
“Many of the francophone countries are very difficult, even when you have all your documents in place. For example, in Benin, a very beautiful place, you get to the border, and somebody wants money, so it becomes very difficult to move through. This affects the movement of people and goods,” he said.
Ras Mubarak also highlighted countries he described as well-governed, including Rwanda, Algeria, Morocco, and Zimbabwe, noting that Zimbabwe was adjudged the most friendly tourism destination in 2025 by Forbes.
He stressed that addressing border bureaucracy and corruption was key to unlocking Africa’s tourism potential and deepening continental integration.
