Julius Malema, the leader of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), has called for bold steps towards continental unity to secure Africa’s economic future.
Gatekeepers News reports that Malema, while speaking at the 2025 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) annual general conference in Enugu, advocated for the establishment of “one president, one army, one parliament, and one currency” for Africa.
According to Malema, these institutions are necessary to dismantle lingering neo-colonial control and unlock economic growth by removing artificial borders and building a shared beneficial continental market. He emphasised that this integration would also help erase xenophobia, replacing the notion of foreignness with a common African identity and destiny.
Malema’s proposal echoes the African Union’s longstanding ambition for a single currency and deeper economic integration. However, implementation has faced significant delays and challenges.
Malema urged Africans to rise above national borders and commit to the ideals of pan-Africanism, while encouraging stronger Nigeria-South Africa ties.
He also highlighted Nigeria’s role in ending apartheid in South Africa and suggested that economic cooperation between the two countries could help rebuild and re-industrialise the African economy.
