Economic Freedom Fighters Leader Julius Malema in Enugu,Nigeria. Image: SABC News.
(The Post News)– Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema called for a united Africa, urging Africans to unite, reclaim stolen land, and challenge global injustice during his speech at the 2025 Nigeria Bar Association conference.
Speaking to delegates in Enugu, Malema called for a united Africa, framing his message as urgent and historic. “As the world transforms, we must present a united Africa that is equal to all nations, including Russia, China, and America,” he voiced. Furthermore, Malema called for a united Africa as he declared that colonial and apartheid regimes stole African land and insisted that Africans must restore it to its rightful owners without compensation.
“For generations, Africans were considered undeserving of human rights and legal safeguards, permitting legal abuse and slavery,” he reminded the delegates. Malema urged leaders to confront unresolved injustices rather than accept them as permanent scars, reinforcing why he calls for a united Africa.
Land Ownership, Human Rights, and Global Fairness
In addition, Malema called for a united Africa as he urged Africans to reject xenophobia and embrace one another. “It’s important to demonstrate to everyone that we do not practice xenophobia and that we love one another. Black people remain unloved both inside Africa and beyond,” he said. He stressed that unity within Africa is as important as standing strong against external powers, reinforcing why he calls for a united Africa.
Global Justice and International Accountability
Turning to the Middle East, Malema accused Israel of committing apartheid and genocide in Palestine. He cited collective punishment, attacks on hospitals, land confiscation, killing children, and deliberate starvation as violations of international law under the Rome Statute. He further argued that Israel’s actions deserve the same global condemnation as apartheid South Africa.
However, he praised South Africa’s legal action at the International Court of Justice, which resulted in ICC arrest warrants for Israeli leaders. Malema criticized the slow pace of international justice, noting that the system rapidly targets leaders in the Global South while hesitating to hold Western countries accountable. “This delay highlights a white supremacist system that rapidly targets leaders in the Global South while hesitating to hold Western countries accountable,” he said.
Strengthening Nigeria-South Africa Ties
The EFF’s Julius Malema called for a united Africa as he praised Nigeria as “a major advocate for justice during South Africa’s darkest struggles,” highlighting the country’s key contributions. For instance, Nigeria launched the Southern African Relief Fund, which mobilized citizens to donate millions toward liberation efforts, reinforcing why he calls for a united Africa.
Moreover, Malema noted that Nigerian students contributed a portion of their income as a “Mandela Support Fee” to fund training and education for Black South Africans. He also recalled Nigeria’s protest actions, including boycotting the 1976 Olympics and the 1979 Convention of the Multiculturalists in opposition to apartheid.
Following Nelson Mandela’s 1990 release, he visited Lagos and Abuja to personally thank Nigerians for their unwavering support. Malema emphasized, “These efforts established a connection sealed by sacrifice and the shedding of blood.”
Recognizing the historical ties, Malema called for a united Africa as he urged that the connection between the two nations evolve into a “meaningful economic partnership.” He encouraged Nigeria and South Africa, described as “pillars of Africa,” to join forces and leverage their mutual strengths, highlighting why he calls for a united Africa.
He outlined key areas for collaboration, including mining, advanced infrastructure, financial networks, and cultural exchanges. Malema expressed concern that, despite being endowed with abundant natural resources, both nations remain “bound by neo-colonial frameworks” where raw materials are cheaply extracted and exported as expensive finished products.
To address this, he suggested a joint initiative to process resources within Africa, combining South Africa’s mining expertise with Nigeria’s oil wealth to create sustainable, continent-centered economic growth. Malema emphasized that Africa must unite, pursue justice, achieve economic independence, reclaim land, defend human rights, build partnerships, honor its history, and utilize its resources effectively.
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