24th August 2025
By Peter Omopo
South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader, Julius Malema, has called for the dismantling of colonial-era borders in Africa and the establishment of a single continental government with one president, one currency, one parliament, and one military command.
Malema made the declaration on Sunday while addressing thousands of lawyers and dignitaries at the Nigerian Bar Association’s Annual General Conference in Enugu.
“We demand one Africa, we demand a borderless Africa, we demand an Africa with one president, one currency, one military command, with one parliament,” Malema told the gathering to loud applause.
The 44-year-old opposition leader argued that a united Africa would be economically stronger and politically respected on the global stage.
“We know the currency of Africa will be much stronger against the American currency. We don’t care what Donald Trump or any other leader thinks of us. Africans must refuse to be subjects of others. We must stand together as the world changes and show the world that Africa is one and equal to all nations,” he said.
Malema rejected the long-standing stereotype of Africa as a “dark continent,” stressing instead the continent’s vast wealth in minerals and natural resources. He urged leaders to prioritize local processing of resources to create jobs and industrial capacity.
“The land belongs to Africans, and the minerals of Africa must be returned to Africans. We have the capacity to create industries and process our minerals here. We must never allow imperialist forces to divide us in order to take our wealth,” he stated.
He also appealed for an end to intra-African conflicts, emphasizing that unity was essential to safeguard the continent’s prosperity.
“We must make sure that no single corner of Africa witnesses Africans killing each other. We must unite against the forces that seek to exploit us,” Malema added.
