Julius Malema calls for one Africa: single president, one currency, one army

EFF leader Julius Malema has once again pushed for a radical vision of African unity, arguing that the continent must move toward one president, one Parliament, one army, one currency, and open borders.

Speaking at the Nigerian Bar Association’s (NBA) annual general conference in Enugu on Sunday, Malema told delegates that Africa’s strength lies in unity and self-reliance.

Malema’s call for a borderless Africa

“A divided continent stands to lose big,” Malema said. “We demand one Africa. We demand a borderless Africa. We demand a single president, a single Parliament, one currency, and one military command.”

He added that such unity would make Africa more powerful economically, even surpassing the United States. “The currency of Africa will be much stronger against the American dollar,” he told the gathering of over 120,000 lawyers and legal professionals represented by the NBA.

Pushback against Western influence

Malema also took aim at US politics, singling out former President Donald Trump. Trump previously criticised Malema’s political stance, particularly his defence of the struggle song “Kill the Boer,” which Trump claimed promotes violence against white farmers. Both the EFF and the South African government have rejected this claim.

“We don’t care what Trump thinks of us,” Malema said. “He will never choose policy positions for Africans. We must show the world that Africa is one and equal to all nations – to China, to Russia, to America.”

Africa’s wealth and self-determination

The outspoken EFF leader placed strong emphasis on Africa controlling its own resources.

“We want the minerals of Africa to be returned to Africans. We must build industries here and process our minerals here. We must never allow imperialist forces to divide us in order to take our minerals,” Malema said.

He described Africa as a “shining nation,” arguing that the continent should stop viewing itself as “dark” or small.

A Pan-African message

Malema’s speech tapped into the long-standing Pan-Africanist idea of continental unity, a dream championed by figures like Kwame Nkrumah and Julius Nyerere. While the African Union has made strides toward integration, including the African Continental Free Trade Area, Malema’s vision of one president, one army, and one currency remains highly ambitious and politically contentious.

Still, his words resonated with many in the audience. On social media, some praised his call for African pride and sovereignty, while others questioned whether such sweeping unity is realistic given the continent’s diverse political and economic landscapes.

Why this matters

Malema’s speech comes at a time when African leaders are under growing pressure to address resource exploitation, economic inequality, and foreign influence. His call for unity may strike a chord with younger Africans who want stronger leadership and self-determination on the global stage.

Whether his dream of a single Africa takes shape remains uncertain, but his message underscores a larger debate: how far should African nations go in pooling sovereignty to stand as equals among world powers?

{Source: IOL}

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