Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has once again ignited debate over the future of the African continent, calling for a radical shift toward continental unity. Speaking at the Nigerian Bar Association’s (NBA) annual general conference in Enugu, Nigeria, Malema urged African leaders and citizens to envision a borderless Africa under a single president, one parliament, a unified currency, and a continental army.
The outspoken opposition leader insisted that the current political and economic fragmentation across Africa weakens the continent and makes it vulnerable to external forces. “A divided continent stands to lose big,” Malema declared. “We demand one Africa. We demand a borderless Africa. We demand Africa with one president, one currency, one military command, and one parliament—because we know the currency of Africa will be much stronger against the American currency.”
A Call for African Sovereignty
Malema told delegates that Africa’s continued dependence on foreign powers prevents it from realizing its true potential. He dismissed criticism from Western leaders, particularly former US President Donald Trump, who has previously attacked Malema’s radical rhetoric. “We don’t care what Trump thinks of us. He will never choose a policy position for Africans. We must refuse to be subjects of Trump,” Malema said.
According to him, Africa must assert itself on the global stage as an equal power to nations such as the United States, China, and Russia. “We are not a small nation. We are not a dark continent. How can we be dark when we’ve got diamonds shining amongst us? We are a shining nation,” he told delegates, drawing applause.
Ending Conflict and Protecting Africa’s Resources
Malema emphasized that Africans should not be killing each other but instead uniting against forces seeking to exploit the continent’s wealth. “Africans must always be together against enemy forces who want to exploit our continent,” he said.
A central part of his message focused on Africa’s mineral and natural resource wealth. He insisted that resources should be processed within Africa rather than exported in raw form. “We want the minerals of Africa to be returned to the Africans because that’s where they belong. We want to build industries in Africa and process our minerals here. We’ve got the capacity. We must never allow imperialist forces to divide us in order to take our minerals from us,” Malema stressed.
The Nigerian Bar Association Platform
The Nigerian Bar Association, Africa’s largest professional body of lawyers with over 120,000 members, hosts an annual gathering that draws policymakers, academics, judges, and international guests. Malema’s participation in this forum reflects his attempt to influence continental discourse beyond South Africa. His message of unity, sovereignty, and economic independence resonates with Pan-African ideals historically championed by leaders such as Kwame Nkrumah and Thomas Sankara.
A Radical Vision
While critics view Malema’s proposals as unrealistic and overly idealistic, supporters argue that his vision highlights the urgent need for African nations to strengthen collaboration and reduce dependency on foreign powers. The call for a unified Africa—economically, politically, and militarily—remains a long-standing Pan-African dream, but achieving it will require overcoming deep national divisions, governance challenges, and competing interests across the continent.
Nonetheless, Malema’s fiery speech once again placed the issue of African unity firmly on the table, sparking renewed debate about the continent’s future.
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