Dear Gambians,
Today, as we commemorate Africa Liberation Day, we honor the visionaries who dared to dream of a united, prosperous, and sovereign Africa—Kwame Nkrumah, Gamal Abdel Nasser, Julius Nyerere, and all the founding fathers of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union (AU). Their dream was not merely of political independence but of a continent unshackled from the chains of division, exploitation, and neo-colonialism. On this day, we reaffirm their call: Unity is our strength, and our future lies in a United Africa.
The Dream of a United Africa:
The founding fathers envisioned an Africa without borders—a continent where goods, services, and people move freely, where a single currency fuels our shared prosperity, and where one continental army defends our sovereignty. They dreamed of one Africa, one president, one foreign policy, and a collective prioritization of Africa’s interests above all else . Today, we must reignite that dream.
– One Currency, One Market: The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a monumental step, but we must go further. A unified monetary system will liberate us from external economic manipulation and foster intra-African trade—the true engine of our future economic growth .
– One Continental Army: Africa’s security must be in African hands. A united defence force will end our reliance on foreign powers and allow us to solve our own conflicts.
– No Borders, Free Movement: Colonial borders were designed to divide us. We must dismantle these artificial barriers and ensure seamless movement for all Africans .
The challenges we face—poverty, conflict, climate change, and external exploitation—demand collective action. The COVID-19 pandemic proved that when Africa unites, we can overcome even the greatest threats . Yet, neo-colonial forces continue to manipulate our resources and politics, as seen in the struggles of Burkina Faso and others resisting foreign domination .
We cannot afford gradual unity. As Nkrumah warned, “We must unite now or perish”. Delay only deepens our vulnerability. The UDP stands for:
Sovereignty: Africa must determine its destiny, free from external dictates. “Nothing about us without us” must guide our global engagements .
Economic Liberation: We must industrialize, leverage our resources, and reject aid that perpetuates dependency. Investments in infrastructure, education, and green growth will make Africa the next global growth champion .
Good Governance: Corruption and tyranny betray Pan-African ideals. We demand leaders who serve the people, not personal or foreign interests .
To the youth: You are the inheritors of this vision. Reject the “backway” to Europe; build the Africa we deserve. To leaders: Put Africa first. To Gambians: Our nation’s progress is tied to Africa’s unity. Let us honour Solo Sandeng and all martyrs by fighting for a just, united continent .
The future of Africa is a United Africa. Let us march forward, together, as one people.
Long Live Africa!Viva African Unity!
H.E. ANM Ousainu Darboe
Secretary General & Party Leader, United Democratic Party (UDP)
