Public Debates Launched Africa-Wide on Africa Day

May 25, Africa Union Day, marks the start of public consultations in over fifteen countries just a few weeks before 53 Heads of States meet in Accra to agree on the AU Proposal to establish the United States of Africa.

In an unprecedented decision, the Heads of States agreed in January to meet in Accra on July 2-3rd to discuss only one agenda, the establishment of a Union Government as a first step towards the United States of Africa.

Yet, despite extensive research and consultation, the proposal is yet to be placed before Africa’s 832 million citizens for consultation. Civil society organizations with support from Governments have kicked off debates in fifteen countries. The debates are an unprecedented attempt to involve the public across Africa in the decision-making processes of the African Union Assemblies.

“Without public consultation, the United States of Africa proposal will have as much chance of flying as an elephant. African governments and citizens must explore the immediate implications and opportunities a Union Government creates for ordinary citizens, particularly those affected by the denial of human rights, poverty and injustice,” said Thomas Deve of Mwelekeo wa NGO (MWENGO), one of the organisers in Zimbabwe.

In the fifteen countries, citizens will be asked to reflect on the opportunities of a Union Government for raising the bar for human rights, democratic governance and conflict. The proposed African Economic Community, a dream that recently got a step closer with the signing of common tariffs within COMESA, will be debates with an eye to an African common market that targets growth, poverty reduction and industrialisation.

“African civil society organisations are in the forefront of generating dialogue between leaders and citizens on this issue. There are many implications. A more unified voice would produce an effective collective negotiating position on global trade policies such as the Economic Partnership Agreements or with China for instance,”, said Valerie Traore, Pan African Programme Manager, African Agency for Cooperation and Research in Development (ACORD) in Nairobi.

While there is general agreement among member-states on the need for deeper and faster continental political and economic integration, the proposal is controversial. Member-states are split between those calling for the strengthening of existing AU structures before taking a bold leap to the United States of Africa and those that argue that as long as the continent remains a motley gathering of fragmented states, continental integration is a futile exercise.

A Ghanaian CSO host committee is preparing to take the views generated in the public debates to the Heads of States at the AU Summit in Accra. Dr. Emmanuel Akwetey, Convenor of the Ghana AU Summit Civil Society Coalition says, “Public engagement should not end with an event at the AU Summit. It should be built into all regional integration efforts to ensure that they are relevant, responsive and accountable to African people.”

For more details of national organisers, please contact: Ivy Maina, Mobile: +254 734 949 105 (Kenya).
For the full text of the press release, including list of interviewees, please visit