Any Hope for Pan-Africanism: Any Future for Continental Free Trade?
By Fiifi Netty
5 June 2026
For some time now, I have been reflecting deeply on our beloved continent, Africa, and the growing wave of xenophobia sentiments. What is even more worrying is how social media commentators have amplified these divisions, often fueling hostility and mistrust among Africans. If this trend is not addressed with urgency and responsibility, it could have far-reaching and catastrophic consequences for the continent.
Africa is abundantly blessed, possessing nearly 30 percent of the world's natural resources. Some estimates suggest that the continent's known and untapped mineral wealth could be worth between $10 trillion and $30 trillion, depending on market conditions and the scale of extraction. Yet, despite this immense wealth, Africa continues to struggle to meet the basic needs of many of its people. Millions still live in extreme poverty, lacking access to quality healthcare, education, decent housing and employment opportunities.
This reality raises an important question: why should Africans turn against one another when our greatest challenge is not our fellow Africans, but the underdevelopment that continues to hinder our collective progress? Rather than allowing xenophobia to divide us, we must embrace unity, cooperation, and a shared vision for a prosperous and industrialized Africa.
Sadly, today, we are witnessing growing xenophobia sentiments among some Africans themselves. At a time when African leaders are promoting the vision of a borderless continent where Africans can freely travel, trade and cooperate, some countries are instead tightening borders and, in some cases, asking fellow Africans to leave their territories. This development is both worrying and unfortunate.
It raises an important question about whether we truly understand and appreciate the vision behind the African Continental Free Trade Area and PanAfricanism. While 54 African countries have signed the agreement, 48 have ratified it, formally committing to its implementation. The only African country that has not signed is Eritrea.
For decades, African leaders, scholars and intellectuals have championed the ideals of PanAfricanism, which are gradually being translated into practical policies of economic integration and cooperation. It is hoped that, in the near future, this initiative will help transform the fortunes of all African nations.
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It is a painful scene to witness in recent xenophobia incidents on the continent, which should be a major concern to all Africans. I believe many of these problems stem from our failure to tell our history properly to the younger generation. Many young Africans are unaware of how several African countries supported and inspired one another in the struggle for independence and liberation. Countries sacrificed resources, lives and diplomatic support to ensure the freedom of their fellow African states. It is therefore painful and heartbreaking to see Africans now treating one another with hostility and suspicion.
It is equally sad that instead of seeing ourselves as brothers and sisters working toward a common destiny, we now view one another from xenophobia perspective, which is affecting jobs, business opportunities and development. While other continents are breaking barriers and strengthening free trade and cooperation among neighboring countries, Africa appears to be moving in the opposite direction by pushing fellow Africans away from their countries within the continent.
In a conversation with a colleague from Egypt, Engy Abdelwahab, a senior journalist with Al-Masry, he indicated that PanAfricanism remains more than a political slogan; it is a historical necessity shaped by Africa’s shared experience of colonialism, exploitation and the ongoing challenges of neo-colonial economic dependency. True African liberation, many believe, cannot be achieved while the continent remains economically fragmented and dependent on external powers.
Engy added that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) represents one of the most ambitious efforts to transform the ideals of PanAfricanism into practical economic integration. By creating a single African market of more than 1.4 billion people, the agreement could significantly boost intra-African trade, industrialization, job creation and economic sovereignty. Africa possesses enormous agricultural potential, strategic minerals, a young population, and vast human capital, yet much of its wealth continues to benefit external economies rather than African societies themselves.
She believes that the future of PanAfricanism must go beyond economics. It should be rooted in justice, human dignity, solidarity and mutual respect among African peoples. Young Africans increasingly share cultural, intellectual and emotional connections that transcend colonial borders, creating hope for a new continental consciousness.
She shared a personal experience during a training program for African journalists in Egypt, where participants from across the continent discovered how deeply connected their hopes and struggles were. That experience reinforced the belief that Africa’s greatest wealth lies not only in its natural resources but also in its people and their shared dream of unity.
She believes that ultimately, the future of PanAfricanism depends on whether Africans continue believing that their destinies are interconnected. If the continent succeeds in building a model based on justice, industrialization, knowledge and solidarity, Africa could emerge not as a peripheral region but as one of the defining global powers of the future.
Kirtan Bhana, another colleague journalist from South Africa, describes the situation as there are moments in history when events that once appeared isolated begin to reveal themselves as part of a larger civilisational pattern. What seemed fragmented suddenly aligns. Political shifts, economic integration, cultural awakening, and geopolitical realignments begin moving in concert.
Mr. Bhana said, "In Africa today, things are falling into place." The emergence of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is an economic arrangement and a bureaucratic trade mechanism, that is the material expression of a deeper continental awakening, the consolidation of an African consciousness that has endured centuries of conquest, extraction, division and misrepresentation.
The AfCFTA, which was launched in 2018, is the practical economic engine of this vision. With a market exceeding 1.4 billion people and a combined GDP measured in trillions of dollars, the AfCFTA has the potential to become the largest free trade area in the world by number of participating countries. More importantly, it aims to fundamentally restructure intra-African trade by reducing dependency on external markets and strengthening regional value chains.
"For generations, Africa has been framed through lenses of deficiency, poverty, instability, conflict and dependency. Yet this framing has always concealed a far more consequential truth, that Africa has consistently been central to humanity’s story, and that its current rise is not accidental but historically inevitable.
What is unfolding now across Africa resembles less a sudden emergence and more a civilizational correction. The founding of the Organization of African Unity on 25 May 1963 in Addis Ababa marked the institutional birth of continental political solidarity. Emerging during the height of anti-colonial liberation struggles, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) embodied the understanding that African independence could not survive in isolation. Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s warning that Africa must unite or perish was not rhetorical idealism; it was geopolitical realism.
The liberation movements of Southern Africa further reinforced this continental ethos. From Angola and Mozambique to Namibia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, African solidarity became a practical force. The Battle of Cuito Cuanavale in Angola in 1988 remains one of the most decisive turning points in modern African history. It altered the regional balance of power and accelerated the collapse of apartheid.
Long before this, the Battle of Adwa in Ethiopia in 1896 had already shattered the myth of European invincibility when Ethiopian forces decisively defeated Italian colonial armies. Adwa became a global symbol of Black resistance and African sovereignty, inspiring anti-colonial movements across the world and giving psychological strength to oppressed peoples from the Caribbean to the Americas. These military victories were markers of an emerging African historical continuum.
However, Africa’s greatest challenge may not come from outside the continent, but from internal fragmentation. The persistence of xenophobia sentiment based on the challenges of undocumented migrants, spurred by a flawed and narrow nationalism directly contradicts the logic of PanAfrican development. Importantly, Africa’s rise does not require isolation from the world. Nor does it imply hostility toward external partnerships.
Sazini Ngwenya, a freelance journalist friend from Zimbabwe, believes that PanAfricanism is achievable. According to her, Agenda 2063 reflects the vision of creating the Africa we want, and she believes this dream is possible. She explained that in Zimbabwe, efforts are already being made to strengthen regional integration. She recently learned that negotiations are underway to allow people to travel to Botswana using only Zimbabwean national ID cards. To her, this demonstrates that PanAfricanism and stronger relationships among neighbouring countries can become a reality.
However, she noted that there are still major challenges, particularly corruption and obstacles affecting the African Continental Free Trade Area. She believes that if African countries fully embrace free trade, the continent could benefit greatly. Using Zimbabwe as an example, she pointed out that the country is one of the world’s major producers of lithium, a mineral that is currently in high global demand. She said Zimbabwe’s lithium resources could significantly boost economic growth and development, but corruption often prevents citizens from enjoying these benefits.
Sazini also expressed concern about the recent xenophobia attacks in South Africa, saying they create the impression that PanAfricanism is not fully embraced in some parts of the continent. She stressed that Africans should not hate one another. According to her, these xenophobic attacks are largely driven by frustrations linked to corruption and political systems within countries. Instead of holding political leaders and systems accountable, some people wrongly direct their anger and frustrations toward innocent African migrants who are only trying to survive and earn a living. She argued that this is not the right way to address national problems. Rather than attacking fellow Africans, citizens should challenge the political and economic structures that contribute to unemployment, poverty and inequality.
If continental free trade and PanAfricanism are to succeed, then Africans must begin to embrace unity not only in speeches and policies but also in practice. We must promote tolerance, cooperation, and mutual respect among ourselves.
Oyet Patrick Charles, President of the Union of Journalists of South Sudan and a friend of mine, said he strongly believes in PanAfricanism and in the future of the African continent. According to him, Africans must work seriously on their educational systems so that the history and importance of PanAfricanism are not forgotten.
He explained that the way African states were divided during colonial rule clearly shows that Africans are one people. In South Sudan, for example, the Nuer people are also found in Ethiopia. In Central Equatoria, some tribes are found in both South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Other tribes are spread across South Sudan, Uganda and the DRC.
These realities, he said, demonstrate that Africans were divided by colonial masters and not by culture or identity. Oyet stressed that Africa’s greatest strength lies in unity. He pointed out that in South Sudan, many of the goods consumed come from East African countries. Food products are imported from Uganda, while factory equipment and petroleum products come through countries such as Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. This, he noted, shows the importance and promise of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
However, he expressed concern about recent developments in South Africa, saying they reveal that many young Africans are unaware of the history of African independence and unity. According to him, many young people have not studied African history properly.
He noted that the independence of many African countries to fight for their own independence was inspired by other who had gained independence. Although Sudan gained independence in 1956, the complexities surrounding Sudan at the time, when it was jointly ruled by Britain and Egypt under a condominium arrangement, meant its independence did not receive the same continental attention.
He explained that Ghana’s independence became a turning point because Kwame Nkrumah strongly supported the liberation of other African countries. He recalled Nkrumah’s famous statement that “the independence of Ghana is meaningless unless it is linked to the total liberation of Africa.”
Oyet added that Nkrumah, together with leaders from countries such as India and Egypt, promoted the idea of the Non-Aligned Movement, which encouraged countries not to align themselves with either the Western bloc led by the United States or the Eastern bloc led by the Soviet Union. This movement, he said, helped support the independence struggles across Africa. Egypt also played a major role through Radio Free Africa, which broadcast messages promoting African liberation and unity.
He further explained that many Africans who fought in the Second World War returned home with a new understanding that they were equal to white people, and this experience strengthened the desire for independence across the continent.
According to Oyet, this history must be taught to younger generations so they can appreciate the importance of African unity. He believes Africa’s future is bright because the continent has the youngest and fastest-growing population in the world, as well as abundant natural resources. He said Africa’s growing population would provide labour for industries and businesses while also creating a strong market for products manufactured on the continent. For this reason, Africans must focus on promoting free trade, African nationalism, and continental unity rather than limiting themselves to narrow national interests.
He warned that if Africans continue to focus only on individual countries instead of the continent as a whole, Africa will struggle to achieve meaningful progress. He therefore called on African leaders to open borders, encourage the free movement of people, goods and services, and work together to move Africa to the next stage of development.
Hissan Siita Sofo, President, AfCFTA Young Entrepreneurs Federation (AfYEF) indicated that, the recent incidents of xenophobia in South Africa are deeply concerning and fundamentally undermine the vision of African unity, integration and shared prosperity that lies at the heart of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Mr Siita Sofo added that AfCFTA is not merely an agreement on trade; it is a framework for building trust, expanding opportunities, and strengthening economic cooperation among African nations and peoples. Xenophobia threatens these objectives by creating barriers to investment, entrepreneurship, labour mobility, tourism and cross-border partnerships.
As Africa works toward greater economic integration, we must reject all forms of discrimination and intolerance. The success of AfCFTA depends not only on the free movement of goods and services but also on the willingness of Africans to embrace one another as partners in development and progress.
However, there are some challenges facing PanAfricanism, including corruption, political instability, economic inequality, xenophobia and tribalism. These challenges can be addressed over time as the vision becomes more reliable and effectively the necessary structures are properly implemented.
The African Continental Free Trade Area is a positive initiative that has been adopted by almost all African countries across the continent. However, it also faces some challenges. These include infrastructure deficits such as poor roads and weak railway networks, which make the movement of goods difficult.
Another major challenge is trade barriers within the continent, where some countries still impose tariffs, quotas, and strict regulations that slow down trade between member states. Corruption and bureaucracy within countries also remain a concern, as customs delays, inefficiencies at border points, and poor administrative systems increase the cost and time of doing business.
Africa can only achieve meaningful development when Africans see one another as brothers and sisters rather than strangers. We must eliminate xenophobia, open our borders, and encourage the free movement of people, goods and services across the continent without unnecessary barriers. Only then can we fully realize our vision of a prosperous, industrialized, and united Africa.
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has come to stay and has the potential to transform the continent's economic landscape. A practical example of African solidarity was when Ghanaians who were evacuated from South Africa were flown home by Ethiopian Airlines. This act reflected the spirit of cooperation, unity and shared responsibility that AfCFTA seeks to promote.
It is a clear sign that Africa is prepared to embrace deeper integration and collective progress. By strengthening intra-African trade, creating employment opportunities, supporting local industries and expanding markets, AfCFTA can position Africa as a major player in the global economy. Through unity, collaboration and a shared commitment to development, Africa can unlock its immense potential and build a brighter future for all its people.
