By Gustav Addo, The African Digest
It is a very rare sight to see a very young person attempting to achieve noble feats that older (supposed more experienced) and more resourced counterparts/persons have been unable to achieve despite the many years given as well as massive resources at their disposal. So when we see and come across such young persons even with limited resources attempting to achieve the same or even greater feats… such a person is worth celebrating.
I dare say that the African Union (AU), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and other pro-African established institutions after all these years and abundant resources have yet been unable to unite Africa and Africans effectively.
And of the many African Heads of States, Presidents and Rulers who have come and gone, very rarely has any one of them been able to effectively get close to the goal line of uniting Africans truly.
Very surprisingly…it is simple men with humble backgrounds, none or limited resources, with unstoppable passion and drive..but with a clear vision who have been able to make evident, and remarkable impacts in this regard. The Vision? … True African Unity
Great Men like Kwame Nkrumah, Nelson Mandela, Patrice Lumumba, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Julius Nyerere, Thomas Sankara, Haile Selassie I and I dare add… Hardi Yakubu
Enter Hardi Yakubu …Son of Africa
Hardi Yakubu is the Coordinator of Africans Rising, a Pan-African movement advocating for a united, liberated Africa, with a key focus on achieving a “Borderless Africa” where Africans can move freely without visas, seeing it as crucial for decolonization and development, contrasting with colonial borders and promoting people-powered change for social justice, climate action, and economic prosperity across the continent.
Who is Hardi Yakubu?
- Pan-African Organizer: A social justice campaigner who mobilizes African people for unity and collective action.
- Africans Rising Coordinator: He leads the movement’s efforts to expand civic space, achieve climate and gender justice, and push for reparative justice.
- Advocate for Free Movement: A strong proponent of removing visa requirements for Africans traveling within Africa, believing it’s a fundamental right and a step towards true liberation.
What is “Borderless Africa”?
- A Vision for Unity: The concept aims to dismantle colonial-imposed borders, allowing Africans to live, work, and trade freely across the continent.
- A Practical Goal: Yakubu and Africans Rising argue it’s a practical objective, not just a dream that tackles issues like the dangerous migration of young Africans seeking opportunities elsewhere.
- Part of a Larger Agenda: It’s one of several campaigns by Africans Rising, alongside efforts for climate justice, reparations, and holding governments accountable, all built on grassroots power
What is Hardi Yakubu’s Key Message? Yakubu emphasizes that “Africa must unite or perish” and that the freedom to move is essential for achieving a prosperous, decolonized continent, calling for concrete action beyond just lofty commitments from leaders.
“Borderless Africa is non-negotiable” – Hardi Yakubu
The coordinator of Africans Rising movement, Hardi Yakubu has stated that achieving a borderless Africa is a must for Africans.
Speaking at the launch of the ‘People’s Petition for Borderless Africa,’ Mr. Yakubu indicated that the time has come for Africans to legally move freely from one point in Africa to the other without needing a visa to do so. “What we want is an Africa where all the people are seen as citizens of the landmass and permitted to move, interact and trade with others without the unimaginable diplomatic restriction we currently have,” he said.
“The concept of a borderless Africa is not new and that is the more reason we have to ensure that we achieve this initiative to ensure that the movement of people in Africa is eased. We cannot have an Africa where when you are moving from one place to another, one needs a visa to do that, and it is even easier for Europeans to move across Africa than it is for Africans doing the same.”
“We want to bring the African Union’s Free Movement of Persons Protocol alive and ensure that the people are aware and are able to push their respective governments to ratify the protocol.”
About Borderless Africa
Borderless Africa – Free Movement Campaign is a product of the All-African Movements Assembly (AAMA) held from 29-31 August 2022 in Arusha Tanzania, bringing together over 600 members of Africans Rising – Pan-African social movements, activists, human rights defenders, advocates, and key stakeholders from 55 countries across the continent and the diaspora.
The goal of the campaign is to achieve an Africa where Africans can move around their own continent without the current restrictions in place. For better trade, integration and development.
The objective of the campaign among other things is to see; the abolition of visa requirements for travel of Africans within Africa, bringing the AU protocol on free movement into force by getting at least 16 more countries to ratify it by 25th May 2023, the organization of a continent-wide grassroots push for the mass roll-out of the African passport, and the facilitation of trade among Africans through the free movement of people and goods.
Hardi Yakubu is a Pan-African movement builder with over a decade of experience advancing social justice, democracy, and grassroots power. He serves as Movement Coordinator of Africans Rising for Unity, Justice, Peace & Dignity, leading continental campaigns such as Borderless Africa and supporting movement-building across the region. Previously, he was Fighter-General of Ghana’s Economic Fighters League, coordinating grassroots mobilization and leadership development. Hardi brings to SMT a deep grounding in grassroots campaigning, multi-country coordination, and Pan-African solidarity, with a commitment to people-centred, justice-driven movements. He has appreciated SMT’s trainings and support with tool recommendations for Africans Rising and seeks to make more of that support accessible across the continent.
The African Digest celebrates a true African Son “Hardi Yakubu”. And true unifier of Africa and Africans.
The Author of this article Gustav Addo is the Founder/Editor-in-Chief of The African Digest, a Pro-African News, Magazine and Media Organisation dedicated toward celebrating Africa, Africans and All things Africa. And I believe in a borderless Africa for All Africans within the African Continent and in the Diaspora.
