From Pan-African speeches to African unity: Policy coherence, institutional governance, and the relevance of Abraham Lincoln’s unionism

Abstract

Pan-Africanism through all the ages has led to some of the most stirring modes of expression, speeches or otherwise, concerning African solidarity and liberation as well as collective destiny. However, the conversion of such rhetoric into a tangible, sustainable unity has been limited. This article explores the causes behind African unity being a goal that is often unattained in reality. It further contends that the main problem is not only the lack of political will but also policy inconsistency and weak institutional governance. Using Abraham Lincoln’s unionism as a point of comparison, this article explains that unity discourse can be effective only if it: first, unmistakably identifies the political “we”; second, bases the duties on shared principles; and third, links the speech to valid and enforceable arrangements. Consequently, the article revisits Pan-African speeches alongside the tangible functions of governance, regional coordination, and institutional harmonization in Africa. It maintains that, under the right conditions, symbolic rhetoric can be converted into coherent public policies, institutional actions that are well-coordinated, and commitments that are measurable and thereby capable of producing integration in the political and economic life of ordinary people.