In the words of South African political firebrand Julius Malema, “They don’t have borders in Europe, but when it comes to us, they say no, you must have borders.”
These powerful words cut deep into the very soul of Africa’s post-colonial condition, a condition where artificial lines drawn by European rulers at the Berlin Conference of 1884-85 continue to fragment and weaken the continent.
The division of Africa is not an accidental relic of history, it is a strategic construct. A divided Africa fuels Europe’s dominance and impedes Africa’s capacity to chart its destiny. In contrast, a united Africa, a United States of Africa, could rebalance global power through its immense human capital, strategic geography, and vast mineral wealth.
The Colonial Legacy: Borders Born in Berlin
Africa is the only continent whose borders were drawn without the consent of its people. European powers, with rulers and compasses, partitioned entire civilizations during the Berlin Conference, creating 54 nations from what could have been one vast continental force. These borders ignored ethnic, linguistic, and cultural realities, ensuring internal strife, fragmentation, and dependence.
Europe no longer functions this way. With the creation of the European Union (EU), European countries enjoy the free movement of people, goods, services, and capital. Yet, the same powers that championed unity at home, enforce division abroad, particularly in Africa. Why? Because unity in Africa threatens their interests.
How Division Makes Europe Thrive
• Raw Material Access at Minimum Cost
Africa is home to 60% of the world’s arable land, 90% of platinum group metals, 40% of global gold reserves, and vast deposits of cobalt, coltan, diamonds, and lithium. Countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), despite being among the richest in resources, are some of the poorest in development due to persistent instability and exploitation. A fragmented Africa allows Western powers and multinational corporations to exploit resources through backdoor deals with individual governments or warlords, something that would be far more difficult in a united Africa with a centralized policy on resource extraction.
• Weapons and War: A Profitable Chaos
Division allows for regional conflicts, and where there are wars, there are weapons. The top arms exporters in the world, mostly Western nations, have consistently sold weapons to African governments and rebels alike. A united and peaceful Africa would starve the European arms industry of billions.
• Currency Control and Economic Dependency
Several African countries, particularly in West and Central Africa, still use the CFA Franc, a colonial currency controlled by the French Treasury. This means France directly benefits from monetary policies affecting African nations. A common African currency backed by mineral reserves, as Malema proposes, would be catastrophic for the euro, the dollar, and the pound, whose value depends on global resource control rather than domestic production.
Practical Examples of European Interference in African Unity
• Nkrumah’s Dream Sabotaged
Kwame Nkrumah’s vision for a United States of Africa was fiercely resisted, not just by some African leaders, but by Western nations who feared a geopolitical giant that could reject neo-colonial arrangements. Nkrumah was overthrown in 1966 with alleged support from the CIA.
• Libya and Gaddafi’s Fate
Muammar Gaddafi, a key proponent of the African Union and an advocate for an African gold-backed currency, was violently removed in 2011. Leaked emails from Hillary Clinton’s office revealed that Gaddafi’s plans to introduce a gold dinar threatened Western monetary systems, making him a target.
• France’s Role in Francophone Africa
France continues to wield economic and military influence in its former colonies, including through bases, CFA currency control, and direct intervention in elections and policy. This interference is a textbook case of neocolonialism disguised as diplomacy.
The Vision of Julius Malema: A Call for Pan-Africanism
Malema’s call for a borderless Africa echoes the dreams of Marcus Garvey, W.E.B. Du Bois, Kwame Nkrumah, Thomas Sankara, and PLO Lumumba. His assertion that a united Africa could collapse the dollar is not hyperbole, it is geopolitical reality. With a unified Africa:
• A continental army could protect mineral-rich regions from foreign interference.
• A common passport could unleash intra-African trade and innovation.
• A central African bank could finally leverage the continent’s $100 trillion worth of natural resources.
• A pan-African digital infrastructure could challenge Silicon Valley monopolies on data.
The Path Forward: What Must Be Done
• Economic Integration First
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) must be accelerated. Trade between African nations is under 15%, while intra-European trade is above 70%. We need unified customs and tariff systems.
• Cultural Reconnection
African unity isn’t only economic, it is spiritual and cultural. Reviving African languages, philosophies, and historical consciousness can weaken colonial mindsets that pit us against one another.
• Pan-African Education
Universities must teach Pan-African history and economics. The youth must be taught that Ghana’s fate is tied to Nigeria’s, just as South Africa’s destiny is bound to Ethiopia’s.
• Political Commitment to Confederation
Like the EU, Africa must begin as a confederation with shared sovereignty in trade, defense, and diplomacy, and gradually move toward federalism. This confederation can then become the United States of Africa, not as a dream, but as destiny.
Conclusion: One Africa or No Africa
“If we become a United States of Africa… we can collapse the dollar,” Malema boldly asserts. And he is right. The world’s balance of power is tilted because Africa is fragmented. Europe’s prosperity is a pyramid whose foundation is Africa’s division. But the time is ripe for a paradigm shift. Africa must rise. Not in isolated islands of prosperity, but as one unified continent. Not just in slogans and flags, but in shared governance, economic solidarity, and cultural pride. The formation of a United States of Africa is not merely Pan-African idealism, it is the geopolitical necessity of the 21st century.
As PLO Lumumba once said, “Africa must write its own narrative.” And that narrative begins the moment we say no to borders that were never ours and yes to unity that has always been our strength.
References
• Malema, Julius. (Various Speeches), Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)
• Nkrumah, Kwame. Africa Must Unite (1963)
• Clinton Emails on Libya and Gold Dinar Project (U.S. State Dept.)
• AfCFTA Reports (African Union, 2023)
• Lumumba, PLO. (2021). Pan-Africanism and the Struggle for Africa’s Unity
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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
