Julius Malema, the fiery leader of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), has reignited the Pan-African dream with a call for a united Africa governed by a single president, currency, parliament, and military command.
Speaking at the Nigerian Bar Association’s Annual General Conference in Enugu on Sunday, Malema urged African leaders to dismantle colonial-era borders and forge a continent that speaks with one voice.
His vision, rooted in the ideals of Kwame Nkrumah and Muammar Gaddafi, seeks to harness Africa’s vast resources and population to rival global powers. But in the streets of Abuja, residents express mixed feelings, with many questioning the feasibility and potential risks of such a radical transformation.
Malema’s keynote address in Enugu was a clarion call for African unity.
“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 declared, drawing applause from thousands of lawyers and dignitaries.
He argued that a unified African currency would be stronger than the U.S. dollar, reducing the continent’s dependence on foreign currencies, which he described as tools of economic subjugation.
“We don’t care what Donald Trump or any other leader thinks of us. Africans must refuse to be subjects of others,” Malema asserted, rejecting external influence on Africa’s destiny
The EFF leader dismissed the stereotype of Africa as a “dark continent,” emphasizing its wealth in diamonds, minerals, and natural resources. “We are a shining nation. The land belongs to Africans, and the minerals of Africa must be returned to Africans,” he said, urging the continent to process its resources locally and build industries to drive prosperity. Malema also advocated for visa-free movement across Africa, arguing that Africans should not need visas to visit one another, as current restrictions perpetuate division.
Malema highlighted Nigeria and South Africa as pivotal to Africa’s industrialisation, praising Nigeria’s historical support during South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle. He called for both nations to lead the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to benefit ordinary citizens. Additionally, he warned against reckless borrowing from institutions like the IMF and World Bank, describing their loans as “debt traps” that undermine economic sovereignty. On xenophobia, Malema condemned attacks on Nigerians, Congolese, and Zimbabweans in South Africa, calling them a “sickness borne of poverty, inequality, and government failure.
To gauge public sentiment, Fairview Africa spoke with residents of Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, about Malema’s proposal. Their responses reveal a mix of cautious optimism, outright scepticism, and concerns about practical challenges.
Blessing, a trader in Wuse Market, expressed strong reservations. “I am not in support of Africa coming together to have one currency, president because if it actually happen there will be fight for who to be president and which country is the one president should come from so is better everybody stay their own,” she said.
Her concern reflects a common fear that competition for leadership could spark conflict among Africa’s 54 sovereign nations.
Ebere, raised security concerns. “I don’t want Africa coming together, using one currency, no visa, it’s not really a good idea because by this way criminal activities will be much, money laundering, criminals can freely move from one country to the other since there will not be visa so let’s just remain the way we are,” she argued. Her view underscores worries that open borders could exacerbate crime and instability.
Another resident, who preferred anonymity, doubted the feasibility of a single leader governing a diverse continent. “For one man to rule the whole Africa, I don’t think it will be possible because Africa is too big,” he said. This sentiment highlights the challenge of unifying a continent with over 1.4 billion people, 3,000 ethnic groups, and 2,000 languages, according to the African Union.
However, not all reactions were negative. Chukwuma, a university student, saw potential in Malema’s vision. “If Africa unites, we can have a stronger economy and compete with the West. But it won’t be easy our leaders must agree, and that’s the problem,” he said. His response reflects cautious support, tempered by awareness of political hurdles.
Malema’s vision aligns with the Pan-African ideals championed by historical figures like Kwame Nkrumah, who envisioned a “United States of Africa.” Proponents argue that unity could unlock significant economic and geopolitical benefits. The AfCFTA, launched in 2021, provides a framework for such integration. According to the African Development Bank (AfDB), the AfCFTA could boost intra-African trade by 52.3% by 2035, increasing Africa’s GDP by $450 billion annually. A single currency could further reduce transaction costs, which the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) estimates at 2-3% of cross-border trade value due to currency conversion.
A unified Africa, leveraging its demographic and resource advantages, holds the potential to rival global powers like China and India. With a population projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050 (UNECA), Africa is poised to become a significant player on the global stage. This population growth presents both a challenge and an opportunity to harness human capital for development and economic prosperity.
Africa also possesses 30% of the world’s mineral reserves, including 60% of cobalt and 90% of platinum, according to the United States Geological Survey. The continent’s vast natural wealth provides an opportunity for growth, particularly if these resources are processed locally, as advocated by Julius Malema. Such a move could create millions of jobs and reduce Africa’s reliance on raw material exports, which currently account for 60% of the continent’s trade, as noted by the World Bank. By adding value to its resources, Africa could boost its industrial capacity and improve its economic resilience.
A unified military command could further enhance Africa’s security coordination. Currently, conflicts across the continent cost Africa approximately $120 billion annually, according to the African Union’s Peace and Security Council. A single, coordinated military force could streamline peacekeeping efforts, enhance regional security, and counter external threats more effectively. This integrated approach would not only reduce the financial burden of conflicts but also improve the continent’s ability to address crises in a timely manner.
Visa-free movement, as proposed by Malema, aligns with the African Union’s Protocol on Free Movement, which aims to enhance tourism and labor mobility. The AU estimates that removing visa barriers could increase intra-African tourism by 25%, potentially generating $60 billion in revenue by 2030. This would not only promote cultural exchange but also foster economic integration across the continent, facilitating the movement of goods, services, and people.
Despite the potential benefits of a united Africa, Julius Malema’s vision faces significant obstacles. The political landscape across Africa is highly diverse, ranging from stable democracies to autocratic regimes, which complicates efforts to reach a consensus on pan-African issues. The African Union (AU), established in 2002, has struggled to enforce its decisions.
According to a 2023 report, only 15% of AU resolutions have been fully implemented, highlighting the difficulty in translating plans into action. Furthermore, the idea of selecting a single president to govern 54 countries with competing interests raises concerns of power struggles, as different nations have diverse political and economic priorities.
A prime example of the challenges Africa faces in its attempts at unity is the delayed introduction of a single currency by the East African Community (EAC), which has been postponed since 2013 due to ongoing political disagreements. These factors underscore the formidable hurdles to achieving Malema’s vision of a unified Africa.
One of the major hurdles to establishing a unified currency for Africa is the significant economic disparity between its nations. Africa’s GDP per capita varies widely across the continent, ranging from as low as $110 in Burundi to $8,000 in Seychelles (World Bank, 2024). This stark difference in economic conditions creates a challenge, as a single currency could disadvantage poorer nations, much like what has been observed in the Eurozone. In the Eurozone, weaker economies such as Greece have struggled under a unified monetary policy, unable to devalue their currency to match their economic conditions.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warns that for a currency union to function effectively, it requires robust fiscal coordination among member countries, a requirement that Africa’s fragmented economies currently lack. Without strong fiscal and economic convergence, the region could face challenges similar to those experienced by the Eurozone, where countries with weaker economies find themselves constrained by a one-size-fits-all monetary policy.
Security concerns, as Ebere noted, are significant. Open borders could facilitate crime, including human trafficking and illicit trade, which the UN Office on Drugs and Crime estimates costs Africa $90 billion annually. Xenophobia, which Malema condemned, remains a barrier. AThe 2023 Afrobarometer survey reveals a significant concern among South Africans, with 48% of the population perceiving foreign nationals as a threat to local jobs. This sentiment is not unique to South Africa, as similar views can be found across the continent. The fear of job displacement by foreigners is an ongoing issue that many African countries are grappling with, further highlighting the challenges of regional integration.
Moreover, efforts to unify Africa’s diverse cultures, languages, and ethnic groups have often been met with resistance, with the risk of escalating ethnic tensions. This issue is starkly illustrated in the historical context of Nigeria’s Biafra agitations, where ethnic conflicts threatened the stability of the country. Similarly, in Sudan, civil conflicts rooted in ethnic divisions have undermined national unity, leading to protracted strife and suffering.
While the vision of a united Africa is shared by many, the practical challenges of overcoming deep-seated ethnic and cultural differences remain a formidable barrier. The fear of losing cultural identities and economic opportunities complicates the process of forging a cohesive pan-African identity.
Debt has emerged as a significant challenge for Africa’s economic growth and sovereignty. In 2024, Africa’s external debt reached a staggering $1.1 trillion, with a substantial portion—60%—owed to major Western institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. This growing debt burden poses a critical challenge for the continent’s financial autonomy.
The loans often come with stringent conditions that limit the ability of African nations to implement independent economic policies. These conditions not only restrict fiscal space but also make it difficult for countries to prioritize local development over external debt servicing. As a result, many African governments find themselves caught in a cycle of borrowing, servicing debt, and accumulating more debt, with little room for growth or investment in key sectors like infrastructure, health, and education.
Julius Malema’s call for a unified Africa under one president and currency touches on these economic challenges. A united Africa would have to navigate these external debt obligations carefully to avoid further entrapment. Without a concerted effort to restructure debt, negotiate more favorable terms, or reduce dependence on foreign loans, the continent risks deepening its economic vulnerabilities, preventing the realization of its full potential.
While Malema’s vision of a single government may seem utopian, a phased approach to integration could bridge the gap between ambition and reality. The AfCFTA offers a practical starting point, fostering economic cooperation without immediate political unification. Strengthening regional blocs like ECOWAS and SADC, which have advanced visa-free travel and trade protocols, could lay the groundwork for broader unity. For instance, ECOWAS’s common passport and tariff system has increased intra-regional trade by 20% since 2015, per UNECA data.
Addressing xenophobia requires grassroots campaigns and economic reforms to reduce inequality, which fuels resentment. Nigeria and South Africa, as Malema suggested, could lead by example, deepening bilateral trade, which reached $2.5 billion in 2024 (Nigeria Bureau of Statistics). Investments in education and skills, with Africa’s youth unemployment at 30% (International Labour Organization), could harness the demographic dividend and reduce tensions over jobs.
Malema’s call for a united Africa taps into a deep-seated desire for self-determination and global influence. The potential benefits economic strength, resource control, and collective security are undeniable, supported by data from the AfDB, UNECA, and AU. Yet, the challenges—political fragmentation, economic disparities, and social tensions—are equally daunting, as Abuja residents’ reactions reveal. A gradual, inclusive approach to integration, building on existing frameworks like the AfCFTA, may offer a path forward. As Malema declared, “Our salvation lies here, in Lagos and Johannesburg, in Abuja and Pretoria, in the hands of Africans who refuse to be divided”.
Whether this vision becomes reality depends on Africa’s ability to balance ambition with pragmatic.
