Group Gathers In Lusaka, Calls For United States Of Africa, Denounces Current Borders

Some Africans gathered in Lusaka, Zambia, to condemn colonial borders in Africa and call for a single country on the continent, the United States of Africa.

The groups, which were assembled by a group called Africans Rising, said in a statement after the gathering: “Gathered here in the land of Kenneth Kaunda for the Borderless Africa Convening, we the peoples of Africa under the umbrella of our Pan-African movement, Africans Rising, denounce colonial borders, both mental and physical, and all relics of colonial exploitation, which continue to cause division and rancour among African peoples.”

They also stated, “We assert our unity as a people.” We no longer want to be identified with or live within the boundaries of these divisions, which were designed to divide and conquer us.

“True to their purpose, these borders and divisions have hampered trade among ourselves as Africans at home and in the diaspora, curtailed cultural harmony, stalled our development, limited educational opportunities, job creation, and overall prosperity, and resulted in significant losses of our young, energetic, and creative people.

“We want to live in an Africa where we are not Zambians, Kenyans, Nigerians, or Sudanese, but simply Africans with a single passport, one currency, and the ability to travel freely across our continent. All logic and rationality, dating back to our forefathers’ and fathers’ independence struggles six decades ago, confirm that this is the only sure path to our mutual prosperity, and it must be realised without delay. Scientific studies have corroborated this.

“We declare that the United States of Africa is the legitimate desire of all African peoples on the continent and in the diaspora.

The form and structure of the envisioned United Africa are subject to rigorous debate guided by the timeless and enshrined African principles of “Ubuntu,” which include the values of ethical governance, economic-social justice, ecological justice, respect for human rights, fellow-feeling, and anti-racism/discrimination.

They went on to say, “We celebrate that the Zambian government has enthusiastically expressed solidarity and support for Africans Rising’s call for the removal of colonial borders.” We thus urge Zambia’s government to take the next logical step and ratify the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, while also removing visa requirements for all Africans travelling from all parts of the continent and our diaspora to the beautiful country of Zambia.

“Through the leadership of the Zambian government, we call on all African governments to operationalize and universalize free movement for intra-African travel and trade by ratifying and implementing the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons.”

The group pledged to continue organising for the shared dream as the most effective way to build economic, social, and geopolitical power, as well as to establish inclusive local organising platforms in all African provinces (countries) to ensure that the vision of a free, just, united, and prosperous Africa reaches every corner of the continent.

They also committed to “working with all Africans in movements, civil society, governments, political parties, and the private sector to realise this dream.”