August 26, 2025

Julius Malema Calls for African Unity, Rejects Neocolonialism at NBA 2025 Conference in Enugu

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Enugu, Nigeria — The President and Commander-in-Chief of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Julius Malema, has called for deeper African unity, justice, and resistance to neocolonial domination while delivering the keynote address at the 2025 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference in Enugu State on Sunday.

Speaking to a packed audience of legal practitioners, political leaders, and policymakers, Malema emphasized the shared historical experiences of Nigeria and South Africa under colonial rule, urging the two nations to take the lead in shaping Africa’s future.

“We don’t need a visa between South Africa and Nigeria. In the same way, we don’t need a visa for our people to travel in their own continent. We are one. Both South Africa and Nigeria know the pain of colonialism,” Malema declared, drawing strong applause from participants.

He highlighted the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a key driver of economic independence and prosperity but warned that it must move beyond rhetoric and become a tool for tangible development.

“Together, Nigerians and South Africans can lead the African Continental Free Trade Area not as a paper agreement but as a living reality that changes the lives of ordinary people,” he said.

Malema further challenged African leaders to reject dependency on foreign powers, stressing that Africa’s progress must be driven internally.

“We must reject the illusion that our salvation will come from Washington, London, or Beijing. Our salvation lies here in Lagos and Johannesburg, in the hands of Africans who refuse to be divided,” he remarked.

On the persistent issue of xenophobia, which has strained relations between Nigeria and South Africa in the past, Malema made an impassioned plea for unity, saying: “We must prove to the whole world that we are not xenophobic. We love one another.”

He also called for policies that prioritize fair trade, protect local industries, and expand investment in education, technology, and innovation as pathways to Africa’s self-reliance.

The NBA conference, one of the continent’s largest gatherings of legal minds, has historically provided a platform for discussing issues beyond law, touching on governance, democracy, and continental cooperation. Malema’s address, with its Pan-Africanist undertone, added fresh urgency to the conversations about Africa’s place in a rapidly changing global order.

 

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