- Title: KENYA: Egyptian motorcyclist marks halfway point in African unity tour
- Date: 12th November 2009
- Summary: ISIOLO, NORTHERN KENYA (FILE) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CONSTRUCTION OF A SECTION OF THE CAPE TO CAIRO HIGHWAY, CLOSE TO THE ETHIOPIAN BORDER, THE LAST SECTION IN KENYA TO BE LAID WITH TARMAC
- Embargoed: 27th November 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Kenya
- Country: Kenya
- Topics: International Relations,People
- Reuters ID: LVA39BH04W1T993P0PCUQYY0D75P
- Story Text: Omar Mansour, an Egyptian motorcyclist from Alexandria, reached the halfway point in a journey on Wednesday (November 10) as he crosses some 13,000 km (8000 miles) from Cape Town to Cairo.
Mansour began his trip, which he says he is undertaking to promote African unity, in South Africa on July 25 this year. The journey has so far taken him through Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Kenya.
He said previous motorcycle trips to Europe with trouble-free border crossings and integrated transport systems gave him with a vision of how a unified African infrastructure could work.
"When I went to Europe on motorbikes and, what you call it - the Western side of the world, I found it very easy to move from one country to another with no problems, even by roads, by trains and I hope one day it will be like that in Africa. I believe in an Africa without borders," Mansour said.
Mansour says he wants his EgyptAir-sponsored expedition to remind African people that Egypt and other North African nations are part of the same united continent as Sub-Saharan Africa.
African nations are pouring huge sums into infrastructure to make the continent more competitive with other parts of the world and provide people with improved lives. But a recent study said the continent must more than double annual investment from around $45 billion (US dollars) annually, to some 93 billion dollars annually, if it is to provide "21st Century" infrastructure.
The last few stretches of a trans-continental highway are currently being finished in northern Kenya.
Mansour also says he wants the journey to prove it is safe to travel through Africa. He pointed to the kindness and hospitality extended to him by local people he has met.
"Everyone is nice to me. You can interview any of the locals who come here... this guy is from Egypt, he is African.. You see him invite me into his house. Everything is cool," Mansour said.
People along the way have had mixed reactions to the lone rider.
"He is trying to unite Africa, this issue of being Asian or what, its coming out. We just want to be one Africa, let's all be one motherland, it should be Africa, it should not be anything to do with whites, blacks, it should be Africa," said Downing Washington, a resident of Nairobi.
"What he does, he does in Africa and is educating people in Africa," said Timothy Onyaini, another Nairobi resident, after meeting the Egyptian.
Mansour says his only difficulties have been technical. He is riding a Honda 750cc motorbike customised especially for the trip.
He initially estimated the trip would take three months, but Mansour is currently delayed in Kenya and his Ethiopian visa expired before he reached the border. He has been told he must return to Cairo to apply for another visa and is currently waiting to hear from the Egyptian embassy in Nairobi whether this will be necessary.
The next stage of his journey, which he hopes to resume soon, will take him up through Ethiopia and Sudan before he enters Egypt.
He believes he will arrive in Cairo shortly before Christmas. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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