Newsletter | Africans in Diaspora UK

Meeting with the Cambridgeshire Authorities

Date: 10/10/2025

Discussion and Actions

Education

We discussed how some African children living in the UK are perceived by teachers and shared concerns raised by both parents and children. We proposed strategies to improve support for African pupils, focusing on building more inclusive and understanding school environments. Read full details

Meeting with the Combined Authority of Peterborough and Cambridgeshire Mayor

The meeting held on Friday, 12th September 2025, at the Manor Leisure Centre in Whittlesey, brought together the Mayor of Peterborough and the Cambridgeshire Combined Authority, Paul Bristow, with Africans in Diaspora UK and community members. The purpose was to

strengthen dialogue, explore mutual interests, and discuss collaboration opportunities.

The session began with a warm welcome from the President, Dr Okoro Akinyemi, who introduced the agenda, followed by self-introductions from all participants. The Mayor then presented his background and vision, highlighting development, housing, inclusivity, and business empowerment across the region. He reassured the community of his accessibility through multiple communication channels.

Central to the discussion was the shared commitment to community development. Africans in Diaspora UK reiterated their interest in contributing to local growth and ensuring equal opportunities for Africans in the region. Members also voiced concerns about discrimination and bullying in schools, noting the need to collaborate with the Education, Equality, and Safeguarding teams. A proposal was raised to establish an African Community Hub or an African Desk within council offices, and the Mayor encouraged the formal submission of this request.

Opportunities for Africans were explored, particularly regarding council property applications and business initiatives. The Mayor emphasised the importance of active participation in decision-making processes. Members, in turn, raised practical challenges such as the loss of the Peterborough–Cambridge direct bus, high electric vehicle charging fees, and immigration difficulties. While the Mayor explained some of the structural reasons behind the charges, he encouraged forwarding specific immigration cases for referral to the appropriate authorities.

The meeting concluded with resolutions to maintain open communication with the Mayor’s office, collaborate with education and safeguarding authorities to address discrimination, and follow up on proposals for transport and housing. Africans in Diaspora UK expressed continued support for the Mayor’s vision while actively seeking opportunities for African integration and empowerment.

The closing remarks reflected mutual appreciation, with both the President and the Mayor reaffirming their commitment to ongoing engagement.

Group photographs sealed the occasion, marking the meeting as a constructive step toward partnership and inclusion.

The Need for African Unification and Its Impediments
By Dr. O. M. Akinyemi

Date: 20th August 2025

A Pan-African symbol highlighting the continent’s unity.The vision of a unified Africa is a longstanding dream. As African Development Bank (AfDB) President Sidi Ould Tah declared in 2023, “Together, we will drive Africa’s transformation with unity, ambition, and purpose”. This reflects Agenda 2063’s Pan-African vision of “an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens”. In the introduction we set out that dream and the AfDB’s endorsement of a united Africa as the foundation for its future.

Having won political freedom, Africa’s leaders long focused next on unity. By 1914 about 90% of the continent was colonised, and full independence came only by the 1970s. After independence waves, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was formed in 1963 as the first institutional step towards unity. Pan-African pioneers like Kwame Nkrumah even called for a “United States of Africa” to dismantle the artificial colonial boundaries dividing peoples. These early efforts set the scene for today’s challenges and aspirations.

Historical Context

Africa’s struggle against colonialism provided the impetus for unity. Pan-Africanism – the ideology of linking Africa’s fate – dates back centuries and underpinned the independence movement. By the mid-20th century, as the Cairo Review notes, Africans from Diaspora and at home were “driving down the bastions of empire”. After most colonies won freedom in the 1950s–70s, continental leaders recognised that sovereignty meant little without unity. The OAU aimed to eliminate colonial borders and promote cooperation. Ghana’s President Nkrumah famously warned that “the independence of a single African nation is meaningless unless it is linked-up with the total liberation of the African continent.” (See Conclusion.)

The post-colonial era saw new institutions and plans. In 2002 the African Union (AU) replaced the OAU, focusing on economic and political integration. In 2013, African leaders re-affirmed the Pan-African vision by launching Agenda 2063, the continent’s 50-year blueprint. Agenda 2063 explicitly seeks “an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa”, placing unity at the core of development. These initiatives set the foundation, but actual unification has proven elusive.

Why Africa Must Unite

Cooperative hands symbolising unity and collaboration. A united Africa offers enormous benefits. Economically, a single African market would be among the world’s largest. It could leverage rich natural resources and a youthful workforce to boost growth. For example, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), once fully implemented, could increase intra-African trade by roughly 45% – adding about $275 billion in cross-border commerce by 2045 – and lift millions out of extreme poverty. AfCFTA is not just a trade deal but a platform for industrialisation and development. A single economy would also attract bigger investment and give Africa greater clout in global markets.

Political and social unity are equally vital. Together, African states could negotiate better terms on the world stage, from fairer trade rules to climate finance. For instance, Africa’s recent seat at the G20 gives the AU “a seat at the table to advocate for long-overdue reforms” like equitable climate funding and fair credit ratings. In crises, a united Africa can pool resources for security, health and infrastructure, reducing reliance on external aid. Cultural and social integration can also heal divisions by promoting Pan-African identity and collaboration. In short, unity would transform Africa’s bargaining power, promote prosperity and empower citizens continent-wide.

Key Impediments to Unification

Despite the clear benefits, real obstacles remain. One primary issue is colonial legacy: Africa’s borders, drawn without regard for ethnicity or geography, split many peoples and forced together others. These artificial boundaries created conflicting national interests and sensitivities. Nkrumah himself noted that dismantling colonial borders was key to any federation. Lingering border disputes and ethnic tensions make some countries wary of ceding sovereignty.

Economic disparities also hinder unity. Countries vary widely in wealth, governance and infrastructure. Poor transport links and incompatible regulations make cross-border trade difficult. As the Afreximbank warns, Africa suffers from “infrastructure deficits” and a lack of finance, which must be addressed for true integration. Differing economic systems and currencies add complexity: without a common currency or unified financial system, integration is slow.

Governance issues pose additional barriers. Corruption, weak institutions and political instability in parts of Africa reduce trust and willingness to integrate. External influences – from competing aid programmes to foreign investment tied to national interests – can also skew priorities and slow Pan-African policies. And language and cultural diversity, while enriching, require effort to overcome communication and policy gaps. In summary, colonial legacies, uneven development, and political fragmentation are among the main impediments to a united Africa.

Case Studies

Map of Africa highlighting continental unity.Several initiatives illustrate the potential and challenges of African unity:

African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA): Launched in 2018, AfCFTA aims to eliminate tariffs on 90% of goods. Progress has been mixed, but experts note its transformative promise. The UN Economic Commission for Africa reports AfCFTA could boost intra-African trade by 45%, driving growth in sectors like manufacturing and agriculture. Afreximbank calls it a “platform for industrialisation” that can “lift millions out of extreme poverty”. The main challenge has been full implementation – harmonising regulations, reducing non-tariff barriers and building infrastructure to connect markets.
Climate and Global Voice (African COP): In 2022 Egypt hosted COP27, dubbed the “African COP.” For the first time, African nations joined forces to present common climate demands. AfDB noted this was “an unprecedented opportunity for a unified African voice” to secure climate action. While not economic union, this case shows how Africa speaking together – on issues like emissions or debt relief – yields greater influence. It highlights that unity can happen issue by issue, and success here suggests a blueprint for political cohesion.

Each case underlines that concrete steps (trade deals, joint statements) can yield unity’s benefits. They also show that technical and political work – from policy alignment to diplomacy – is needed to make unity meaningful.

Solutions for a United Africa

The path forward combines policy, investment and community action. First, strengthening continental institutions is crucial. Entirely funding and empowering the African Union and its Agenda 2063 projects would give the union a more precise roadmap. Agenda 2063’s flagship projects (like the Pan-African Payment & Settlement System) should be accelerated, since they directly ease trade and investment. Implementing mobility protocols (visa-free travel, mutual recognition of credentials) would deepen people-to-people ties. Integrating security forces and conflict-resolution mechanisms can also build trust.

Second, economically implementing integration is key. Governments must finish rolling out AfCFTA rules and invest in transport and energy corridors (e.g. the Trans-African Highways and power grids under the AU’s PIDA plan) to physically link nations. Fair financial systems – such as the Pan-African financial institutions and the AfCFTA-focused Afreximbank initiatives – need capital. As Afreximbank notes, Africa’s seat in the G20 is a chance to push for finance reforms from within. Mobilising regional investment (African stock exchanges, pension funds, diaspora bonds) can also fund infrastructure and industries.

Third, harnessing the African diaspora is vital. Africans abroad already send over $50 billion home each year. This capital and talent should be steered into development. Diaspora organisations (like the African Diaspora Network) are encouraging strategic investments and skills transfer. As ADN’s founder observes, leveraging “the intellectual, philanthropic, and financial resources of the diaspora” can “foster sustainable change” in Africa. Creating diaspora investment funds, easing property ownership, and voting rights abroad can make diaspor as part of national planning.

Finally, promoting a Pan-African mindset is a social solution. Education and media should highlight common heritage and interests. Youth forums and cultural exchanges can build an African identity. Civil society and faith groups can champion unity over narrow nationalism. In short, political leaders must accompany policy with a message of shared destiny. Nkrumah’s words still resonate: “Divided we are weak; united, Africa could become one of the greatest forces for good in the world”. Embodying this spirit in both policy and popular discourse is the bedrock of any unification strategy.

Conclusion: “Africa Must Unite”

Kwame Nkrumah’s landmark 1963 speech remains a rallying cry: “Our task is clear… We must unite now or perish.”He warned that partial independence was insufficient – only a truly united Africa could overcome poverty and neocolonialism. Today, his words ring true: only together can African nations fully control their destiny. We have seen that unity brings transformative trade, a stronger voice and shared progress. The obstacles – colonial borders, uneven development, political fragmentation – are surmountable with coordinated effort. As we strive for “an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa”, we do so in honour of Nkrumah’s vision and the sacrifices of past generations. The lesson is clear: united, Africa and its diaspora can achieve far more than alone.

Q&A and Community Dialogue

Q: What role can Africans in the diaspora play in unification?– Diaspora communities can lobby governments for pro-integration policies (e.g. supporting AfCFTA or AU initiatives), invest in pan-African projects, and build transnational networks. Events like the African Diaspora Investment Symposium show how diaspora can channel funds and expertise into key sectors.

Q: How will a common market affect local jobs?– A broader market encourages industries to grow, potentially creating jobs in manufacturing and services. While competition increases, African producers are expected to gain more than they lose because regional demand is enormous. Government support (like training programs) will help workers adapt.

Q: Is it realistic to unify Africa, given its diversity?– Unity does not mean erasing diversity. The European Union and ASEAN are examples where diverse states cooperate for mutual gain. Africa’s shared history and interdependence (e.g. trade, climate) give practical reasons to work together. Trust-building takes time, but the potential benefits – peace, prosperity, and power – make the effort worthwhile.

Community Dialogue: We invite you, our readers and members, to a forum discussion on the 27th of September at 6 pm to share your questions and ideas on unification. How can we Africans in the UK support integration back home? Join our upcoming webinar or submit questions for Dr. Akinyemi. Contact us for the link using the contact form. Together, we can turn the aspiration of African unity into reality.