South African opposition leader and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) President, Julius Malema, has called for Africa to unite under one economy, currency, and military command, saying it is the only way to end the continent’s “continued subjugation” by developed nations.
Malema made the declaration while delivering a fiery keynote address at the Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Enugu, themed “Stand Out, Stand Tall.” His remarks drew a thunderous ovation from thousands of lawyers.
According to him, Africa must stop exporting raw minerals only to repurchase them as finished goods at exorbitant prices. He argued that unity is the key to building a stronger economy and asserting Africa’s rightful place in global affairs.
“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 declared. “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.”
He condemned xenophobia as a betrayal of African solidarity, insisting that Nigerians are not to blame for South Africa’s unemployment crisis. He praised Nigeria’s sacrifices during the anti-apartheid struggle and urged Africans to “refuse to be subjects of others.”
Malema also pressed for visa-free movement across the continent and warned leaders against reckless foreign borrowing that mortgages Africa’s future.
“The land belongs to Africans, and the minerals of Africa must be returned to Africans. We must never allow imperialist forces to divide us in order to take our wealth,” he said.
The conference, chaired by the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, also featured strong calls for justice sector reforms. The Sultan cautioned that justice was increasingly becoming a “purchasable commodity” that shielded the rich from accountability while the poor suffered.
NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), urged lawyers to embrace sacrifice and courage in defending the rule of law, while Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, who declared the event open, said development could only thrive on a justice system that is fair, trusted, and accessible to all.
