South African opposition leader Julius Malema has renewed his call for a united Africa under a single president, one currency, a unified parliament, and a single military command.
Speaking at the Nigeria Bar Association’s Annual General Conference in Enugu, Malema urged African leaders to dismantle colonial-era borders and promote continental unity.
Malema emphasized that Africa, with its 54 sovereign states, abundant mineral wealth, and vast human capital, has the potential to become an economic powerhouse if it unites.
He rejected the outdated label of Africa as a “dark continent,” insisting Africans have the ability to build industries and process their own resources rather than being exploited by external powers.
A key part of his vision includes visa-free movement across Africa, stating that no African should require a visa to visit another African country.
Malema also praised Nigeria’s historic support of South Africa during the anti-apartheid struggle and called on Nigeria and South Africa to lead the African Continental Free Trade Area initiative to accelerate economic integration and development.
He warned African governments about the dangers of reckless borrowing from international lenders such as the World Bank and called for stricter regulations to protect Africa’s economic sovereignty.
Malema stated, “We demand one Africa, we demand a borderless Africa, we demand an Africa with one president, one currency, one military command, with one parliament.”
He expressed confidence that a unified African currency would be strong against the US dollar and stressed that African nations must refuse to be subjects of foreign powers.
Highlighting the unity of the continent, Malema said, “We are a shining nation.
We must ensure that no part of Africa witnesses Africans killing each other. We must unite against forces seeking to exploit us.”
He asserted that Africa’s land and mineral wealth belong to its people and should be used to build industries within the continent, warning against imperialist efforts to divide and exploit Africa.
Concluding his speech, Malema called on Nigeria and South Africa to play leading roles in Africa’s industrialization and growth, urging African nations to take control of their own destiny and future.
Malema’s vision fundamentally proposes replacing Africa’s 54 independent states and their separate institutions with a single, unified political and economic entity aimed at securing Africa’s global stature and autonomy.
