Africans on a united continent

The new African Union (AU) chairman, Libya's leader Muammar Gaddafi, has called for a United States of Africa.

Here BBC News website readers from across the continent discuss the possibility of greater unity.

LAUBEN MATSIKO, 25, JOURNALIST, MBARARA, UGANDA

I strongly support a United States of Africa. Our leaders must accept that there are long-standing challenges that we have failed to address as individual countries, but which we could overcome if we combine efforts.

The countries of Africa share more than what divides them. You will find Batwa people in Congo and in Uganda, Luo people in Uganda and the same people in Kenya.

Unity would bring serious benefits for countries both economically and socially.

It would foster democracy and the rule of law across African lands. Countries like South Africa and Nigeria could act as the lead players in this.

A single passport for Africans would change everything. How I wish I could wake one morning and cross the border to Kenya without going to the embassy for a visa.

I say to Africans, this is the time to realise that an opportunity has come about, so let's embrace the idea of unity.

PETER MATHUKI, 39, CONSULTANT, NAIROBI, KENYA

A united Africa is a noble idea

I see myself as African, as do many of my friends. But others see themselves as Kenyan first.

I believe a united Africa is a noble idea. It is through unity that countries can achieve a great deal in today's volatile world.

However, any union must be premised on common African values and a shared vision.

Our current leaders across the continent don't share a common vision or common values for Africa.

Suspicion is another big challenge. Our leaders don't trust one another.

If the African leaders don't achieve unity now, when the high court of history sits to judge affairs of their time, they will be judged harshly.

It is the right time to have a united Africa to counter the numerous global challenges facing the people across the continent.

We need new and fresh leaders to start a project on re-making Africa. We need young, dynamic people to come together, with knowledge of Africa's rich history to dream of what Africa could be.

SEFENE ASFAW ZEWDIE, 26, IT SUPPORT ENGINEER, ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA

I do see myself as African as well as Ethiopian. But the dream of unity is not something we can achieve in our generation.

We Africans are colourful by our dissimilar identity. The countries of the continent have different agendas and different political views. Some nations are imperialistic, some countries are democratic and some are religious.

It would be better if leaders concentrated on creating a stable, developed and peaceful Africa first - rather than just a united one.

Muammar Gaddafi should concentrate on peace in Darfur and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Most African leaders are concerned with power. They do not have a commitment to peace and development.

Years come, years go and still the things do not change. There is still no peace in Darfur, Congo and Somalia. Corruption and HIV is rampant in mama Africa.

MOHAMED IBRAHIM ELSAYEH, 21, STUDENT, ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT

African countries do not feel that they are united or that they even share similar interests. This is partly because the continent was long ago divided by occupiers.

In Egypt we see ourselves as Arabs and Muslims, rather than Africans. We feel closer to Saudi Arabia or Turkey than Guinea or Morocco.

The real problem is not just that African nations are divided, but that African countries feel nothing for each other.

Many in Egypt, for instance, don't know the names of other African countries. So how could they ever feel united with the rest of the continent?

African unity demands that African countries share the idea of a single African identity, something which unfortunately seems impossible.

The attempts made by any African country to pursue common interests will be in vain. First there must be a change within every nation across the continent.

In reality, dictatorships in many African nations make it difficult for countries to share interests and develop. Dictators do not care for their own people. What is happening in Zimbabwe is good proof of that.

LEON VAN GREUNEN, 44, MANAGER, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

In principle there could be a united Africa. But will there be one? No. Who would lead the union?

Our current leaders would have to share power. At the moment there are no countries in Africa that could claim that responsibility with a clear conscience.

Other than living on the same continent and being 'African', there are very few things that we share in common, apart from a history of past oppression and present unrest.

First we must see healthy examples of unity at work nationally and regionally, before we can think of the continent as the test field for unity.

And where will the model of democracy come from? Right now there are no examples of democracies in Africa. There are some emerging democracies, but their shelf life is questionable.

Democracy is seen as a western import by many, and is very often criticised by African leaders as being 'neo-colonialism'.

There are no examples of great leadership anywhere across this continent. This is perhaps why the people of Africa have pinned their hopes vicariously to US President Obama. Perhaps as an 'African' Obama's example will be acceptable.