Africa’s right to unite or perish

What the report says

The Independent Uganda published a July 21, 2026 commentary by Crispin Kaheru, a member of the Uganda Human Rights Commission, arguing that African countries face a stark choice between deeper unity and continued vulnerability. The article frames continental integration as central to development, security and international influence, with the East African Community’s expanded map, including Somalia, used as a visual reference point.

Kaheru’s core economic argument is that many African economies remain dependent on exporting raw materials and importing higher-value finished goods. He cites Uganda’s efforts in value addition — including dairy processing, coffee branding and maize milling — as examples of development through production, but says Uganda’s domestic market is too small to sustain large-scale industrial growth on its own. He calls for stronger links through East Africa, COMESA and a wider continental market.

The commentary also connects integration to security. Kaheru points to instability in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, piracy, violent extremism and newer domains such as cyber and satellite-enabled conflict as challenges that cannot be handled by individual states alone. He presents Uganda’s regional military and peace-support engagements as evidence that security threats cross borders and require shared systems.

The piece further argues that Africa’s fragmentation weakens its bargaining power with global powers seeking minerals, energy resources, land, water and strategic influence. Kaheru says Pan-Africanism should become practical policy through regional industrialisation, common infrastructure, integrated markets, collective defence and coordinated diplomacy. As commentary, the article advances an argument rather than reporting a new policy decision.