In this edition of Daybreak West Africa, we bring you a story of courage, adventure, and a powerful message for the continent.
For the past three years, Meryem Belkihel, a young Moroccan cyclist, has been pedalling across Africa, one border, one community, and one story at a time. From the deserts of the Sahara to the forests of Central Africa and the coastlines of the Atlantic, her journey is more than a physical challenge. It is a living testimony to what a Borderless Africa could feel like.
Meryem’s adventure commenced from the vibrant streets of Morocco, leading her southward along the West African coast to Cape Town. Despite the physical challenges, she emphasises that her journey is as much about internal discovery as it is about the external mileage covered.
Throughout her travels, she has seen the beauty of the continent up close, but she has also experienced the obstacles: visa restrictions, border delays, and the complicated paths Africans must navigate just to move within their own continent.
On the sidelines of the recently concluded Borderless Africa Forum, WADR caught up with Meryem, who shares her experiences on the road, the people she has met, and why she believes that free movement is not just a policy demand, but a human story — one that affects connection, opportunity, and the very soul of African unity.
