Pan-Africanist and leader of South Africa's Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Julius Malema, has made a bold call for the unification of Africa under a single president, one parliament, one currency, and a unified military command. He made this appeal on Sunday while delivering a keynote address at the Nigeria Bar Association Annual General Conference in Enugu.
Malema urged African leaders to dismantle colonial-era boundaries and work towards a borderless continent that speaks with one voice. He voiced confidence that a unified African currency would be stronger against global currencies like the US dollar, emphasizing the continent's sovereignty regardless of opinions from world powers. "Africans must refuse to be subjects of others," he stated, emphasizing the need for solidarity as the world evolves.
In his speech, the 44-year-old politician fiercely rejected the outdated notion of Africa as a "dark continent," highlighting its rich endowment in diamonds, minerals, and other natural resources. Malema called for the reclamation and local processing of the continent's resources to ensure that the wealth benefits Africans directly rather than foreign interests.
He also highlighted the importance of visa-free movement across African countries, advocating for Africans not to need visas to visit one another a push for greater integration and mobility.
Malema credited Nigeria and South Africa as key drivers for Africa’s industrialization and development, urging both nations to jointly lead the African Continental Free Trade Area efforts to improve the lives of ordinary citizens.
He further warned African governments against reckless borrowing practices from institutions like the World Bank and IMF, describing such loans as "debt traps" that jeopardize Africa’s future.
Addressing xenophobia, Malema condemned attacks on foreigners within African countries, describing these as betrayals of African unity caused by poverty, inequality, and governance failures. He urged Africans to love and treat one another better, emphasizing that Africa's salvation lies in unity and self-determination.
Malema’s speech was a powerful call to action for African solidarity, economic emancipation, and political unity, underscoring the continent's potential to rise as a strong and prosperous global player if its nations choose cohesion over division.