DRC Joins Push for Borderless Africa With Support for Visa-Free Travel Movement
Story: written by Uzuh Rita September 16,2025
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has thrown its weight behind a Pan-African campaign advocating for visa-free travel across the continent, a move that strengthens calls for deeper regional integration and easier mobility. With its endorsement, the number of governments backing the initiative has now risen to eight.
The Trans Africa Tourism and Unity Campaign, spearheaded by former Ghanaian lawmaker Ras Mubarak, is pushing to eliminate visa restrictions that hinder travel, trade, and cultural exchange within Africa. The project aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which envisions a fully integrated and prosperous continent.
Speaking during an event in Kinshasa, DRC’s Tourism Minister Didier Mazenga Mukanzu emphasized that removing visa barriers could unlock immense opportunities for citizens and help showcase Africa’s cultural diversity on a global stage.
“Facilitating free movement across African countries is key to building unity, expanding tourism, and driving economic growth,” Mukanzu said.
Mubarak, currently on a 163-day road journey through 39 African countries, described the DRC’s support as a major boost for the campaign. He highlighted Africa’s vast natural wealth—including cobalt, copper, diamonds, and coltan—as resources that, if managed responsibly, could transform the continent’s future.
“We must take ownership of our resources, resist exploitation, and work together to secure dignity and accountability for African people,” Mubarak said.
Advocates of the campaign argue that free movement of people is the missing link in Africa’s integration agenda. While the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has created opportunities for commerce, campaigners believe that seamless mobility is essential to unlocking the full potential of trade and development.
By backing the initiative, the DRC—one of Africa’s largest nations with significant mineral reserves—adds weight to the growing momentum for a borderless Africa, where collaboration, opportunity, and shared prosperity can thrive without barriers.
