By Kwame Gonza, Member of the African Continental Unity Party (ACUP), Mechanical Engineer and Railway Pioneer of the African Railway Triangle Network Master Plan (ARTNMP)
The United States of America’s recent attack on Iran marks yet another dramatic escalation in the wave of global conflicts, from Ukraine to Gaza, and now to this growing tension between Israel and Iran. In response, major global powers like China and Russia have clearly voiced their positions—demonstrating their influence on the global stage. However, Africa—with its vast population, rich natural resources, and enormous potential—continues to remain silent and sidelined in these critical conversations. This is neither acceptable nor sustainable.
While it is true that Africa has been marginalized by former colonial powers at the United Nations—particularly through the exclusion of Africa from permanent Security Council membership—this exclusion is not only external. Much of it is also self-inflicted. The consistent failure of African Heads of State to act together and present a unified front has only worsened the situation. The result is a continent that is either ignored or treated with pity, not respect.
Consider the example of China, which earned its place as a permanent Security Council member after strengthening its political, military, and economic standing. Yet African leaders, even in the face of such an example, have continued down a path of confusion and disunity. Some side with known enemies of Africa, others engage in timid diplomacy that amounts to passivity, while the majority remain silent—behaving as though they are oblivious to the major shifts shaping today’s world.
South Africa’s commendable role in leading the African Union’s delegation to mediate the Russia-Ukraine conflict showed what is possible when African countries take coordinated action. But these efforts must become the rule, not the exception. Africa’s voice on the global stage must be clear, bold, consistent, and unified. It is no longer enough to be a passive observer in a world where decisions made elsewhere directly affect the cost of fuel, food, clothing, aircraft, vehicles, and even the prices of the agricultural goods we export.
Our so-called leaders cannot continue blaming external factors for our suffering without actively engaging in the global discourse that shapes those very outcomes. Participation must come before complaints. Diplomacy must come before despair.
ACUP: A Political Vehicle for Continental Representation
In this context, the African Continental Unity Party (ACUP) emerges as a beacon of hope. It is one of the only organizations with a strong ideological foundation and the political clarity required to truly represent the economic and political interests of African people. The time has come for intentional and assertive engagement on the global stage—protecting Africa’s interests, defending its resources, and standing firm against exploitation by foreign powers, corporations, and parasitic systems.
A Call to Action
We call on all Africans—within the continent and across the diaspora—to join the ACUP. Together, we can reclaim our voice, shape our destiny, and ensure that Africa plays a meaningful and decisive role in shaping the world of today and tomorrow.
