“With our success in the liberation struggle, Africa today has 53 independent states, 21 more than those which met in Addis Ababa in May 1963 [currently 54]. If numbers were horses, Africa today would be riding high! Africa would be the strongest continent in the world, for it occupies more seats in the UN General Assembly than any other continent. Yet the reality is that ours is the poorest and weakest continent in the world. And our weakness is pathetic. Unity will not end our weakness, but until we unite, we cannot even begin to end that weakness. So this is my plea to the new generation of African leaders and African peoples: Work for unity with the firm conviction that without unity, there is no future for Africa. That is of course, assuming that we still want to have a place under the sun.”
- Julius K. Nyerere
Africa is home to 54 countries which have suffered from the pillage of resources, detainment under colonial regimes, labour exploitation, and forceful eradication of primary ethnic culture. Colonial governments took over much of Africa’s land for their own personal or commercial use, particularly the mining and commercial farms. Post colonisation, Africa was left a balkanised society with various languages, currencies and political systems which have drawn the countries farther apart and stifled their growth as a continent. Today, the continent remains richly diverse in culture, ethnicity, religion and resources, categorised into five regions: Northern, Eastern, Western, Central and Southern Africa. While many African countries have achieved political independence, their ability to act independently on the global stage and influence international decisions remains limited, often facing challenges due to economic dependence, limited representation, and historical legacies.
Pan-Africanist leaders like Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere, and Kenneth Kaunda advocated for a united Africa in an effort to overcome the economic disunity and political instability imposed by arbitrary colonial borders which would have paved the way for shared prosperity, regional development, and a stronger collective voice on the global stage. Regional blocs like ECOWAS, EAC, and SADC have made significant strides in fostering a collaborative environment for its member states through easing the movement of people across borders by harmonizing visa regimes and facilitating labour mobility. However, complexities of addressing diverse economic development levels across member states are still highly evident.
While many African nations have achieved political independence, their ability to shape their own destinies and address issues like poverty and inequality remains limited. True sovereignty is crucial for Africa to fully reap the benefits of its hard-won freedom and build a more prosperous future. This could empower Africa to leverage its abundant resources and develop a strategic approach to competing in the global market.
Global Outlook
Drawing lessons from the European Union, integration allows political and socio-economic progression by removing barriers caused by individual interests and providing a firm base for the construction of a stronger Africa. Like the old saying goes, ‘If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together’. In 2012, the European Union was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for its achievements in delivering peace and stability for more than half a century. This was possible through the establishment of peaceful conflict resolution mechanisms which included legal avenues through the European Court of Justice that aided the management of disputes and disagreements constructively.
Additionally, the EU is the world’s biggest single market allowing free movement of goods, services, people and money. This interdependence enables the member states to study, work or retire in any of the EU countries. Removing migration barriers helps the flow of skills and expertise across the union. This diffusion enables the existence of shared values as all member states are exposed to equal opportunities. Being able to direct thoughts towards one particular vision, and removing socio-economic barriers like employment, education and health is a tremendous feet in strategizing for economic and political growth.
Regional Outlook
The regional blocs that exist across Africa have made substantial strides in the development of the individual regions too. Development of infrastructure is one example, with the blocs building railways and roads across the member states to assist with the transportation of goods and people such as the Lagos Abidjan Corridor, connecting the capital cities of five West African countries as well as the West Africa Power Pool which seeks to develop a regional electricity market and integrate power grids in West Africa. The EAC has collaborated efforts to promote peace and security in the region with notable interventions in the South Sudan Conflict, Burundi Crisis and terrorism in Somalia through the deployment of peacekeeping forces that intervene during conflicts and stabilise the countries and cross border cooperation through information sharing and joint operations.
SADC too has made several achievements in infrastructural development and peacekeeping across its 16 member states through developing transportation networks, energy grids and communication systems, aiding in the facilitation of trade.
Now imagine an Africa where the countries were not only integrated according to regions, but the regions were integrated throughout the continent. Where the railways connected the East to the West, North to South. Where people could move across without tedious immigration procedures and the skills from one region could be extended to another region easily. Where leaders could collectively discuss how they take Africa further rather than discuss how to get their products, a great contributing factor to their country’s GDP across the imaginary borders of a country that might be in need of the product, but do not have a good enough political relationship with said country. Once resources are distributed throughout Africa, the barriers that are limited human capital, infrastructure deficits, political instability and conflict are broken, and countries are in a better position to compete globally.
In the words of the late Mwl. JK Nyerere – ‘Unity will not end our weakness, but until we unite, we cannot even begin to end that weakness.’ It may not be a silver bullet to the years of injustice Africa has faced, but it sure is a place to start.
Southern Africa
Maria-Salome Milanzi
Jun 2024