Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has delivered a powerful speech calling for African unity, arguing that the continent must overcome the borders drawn by colonial powers.
Speaking at the 2025 Nigeria Bar Association Annual Conference, Malema told an audience of legal, business, and political leaders that “unity is not an option, it is a necessity.” He asserted that Africa’s true strength lies in solidarity and self-determination, rather than in competing as separate, isolated nations.
Malema criticized the current system where Africa’s vast natural resources and wealth primarily benefit a select few, both foreign and local, instead of the majority of its people. He pointed to the European Union as a model of successful integration and proposed that Africa create its own version, guided by its own values and principles.
The South African opposition leader also connected the goal of unity to the need for better governance. He stressed that genuine progress cannot happen without fighting corruption, ensuring ethical leadership, and building strong democratic institutions that respect human rights.
“The call for one Africa is also a call for ethical leadership,” Malema stated. “We cannot speak of liberation while our people continue to be oppressed by poverty, mismanagement, and exploitation.”
His address, centered on the conference theme of “Shaping Africa’s Future Through Rule of Law and Unity,” was met with a standing ovation. Attendees described it as a timely and necessary call to action.
Malema concluded by declaring that Africa’s destiny rests in the hands of its own people, urging the current generation to continue the fight for unity, dignity, and true independence.