The story of the famous British adventurer Russ Cook has captured the attention of the British press for days and has received significant interaction on social media, especially when he posted a recording expressing his desire to obtain a visa to enter Algeria to complete his charity adventure. The momentum increased when the Algerian Embassy in Britain responded to the man, who is also known as "the hardest strange man," and American billionaire Elon Musk interacted with that response.
Day 278 of running the entire length of Africa. Need your support now more than ever on this one. Appreciate you all? pic.twitter.com/AvQGt1Noi7— Russ Cook (@hardestgeezer) January 23, 2024
The Algerian embassy confirmed that they have no objection to granting him a visa to enter Algeria and continue his journey, after he traversed a long path through the African jungles, aiming to complete a long trail on foot to raise funds for charitable activities. The embassy stated in a comment on Russ Cook's post on the platform formerly known as Twitter, which achieved massive interaction and millions of views, that the adventurer should submit his visa application from his current location, and the Algerian mission would grant him an immediate courtesy visa.
Furthermore, Algeria stated that the British adventurer would receive a multiple-entry visa allowing him to cross Algeria via Tindouf Province to continue his charity mission. The Algerian Embassy in London remarked: "Welcome to Algeria, and we wish you good luck."
The British adventurer is currently in Mauritania, where he arrived, and is preparing to enter Algeria after obtaining its visa to continue his journey. What further amplified the story was Elon Musk, the owner of the platform, who commented that this type of interaction is what makes his platform special.
Notably, Russ Cook, 26, from Worthing, West Sussex, started his challenge from the southernmost point of Africa on April 22 of last year, hoping to finish at the northernmost point in Tunisia. The adventurer has received support from several celebrities for his charitable causes and his attempts to raise funds for The Running Charity foundation. So far, he has raised £144,492.
The "hardest strange man," as some call him, has traveled over 10,000 kilometers and crossed borders into about 20 countries since he began his journey nearly a year ago. Recently, Algeria has been attempting to reduce bureaucratic difficulties for foreign tourists, announcing the easing of visa acquisition procedures for tourists wishing to visit the desert in the southern part of the country without the need to apply for a visa from embassies and consulates.
Mohamed Amin Berjame, President of the National Association of Travel Agents, stated in a previous comment to "Al Arabiya.net" that the decision to grant exceptional visas to foreign tourists would benefit the local economy: "The tourism sector is a horizontal sector that moves with several areas, including traditional industries, transport, and airport operations," emphasizing that Algeria has all the components to receive tourists in terms of infrastructure and hotel facilities. He called on all actors in all sectors to elevate the quality of services at competitive prices, as foreign tourists are quite demanding, preparing for their vacation destination a year in advance.
