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Claim: A Facebook post with several images claims a United States of Africa, showing a passport, government offices, headquarters, and a capital city.
Verdict: Misleading. According to a Google search, the “United States of Africa” does not exist as a country, nor has any such passport or headquarters been officially created. The images in circulation are edited and computer-generated illustrations.
Full Text
A Facebook user named Biggy Smalls posted pictures with the caption United States of Africa. The photos include a supposed United States of Africa passport, a government office building, a headquarters, and a green signboard welcoming people to the Capital City of the United States of Africa. This post suggests that African nations have merged into one federal state called the “United States of Africa,” complete with passports and central government offices. Because of the potential to mislead, DUBAWA decided to fact-check it.
The United States of Africa (USA) is a visionary but unrealised project that aims to create a single, sovereign African entity. Supported by influential pan-Africanists like Marcus Garvey, Kwame Nkrumah, and Muammar Gaddafi, the idea is rooted in the belief that continental unity is vital for Africa’s economic, social, and political progress. While advocates point to massive economic growth, enhanced global influence, and reduced conflict as potential benefits, the challenges are substantial. These include Africa’s vast diversity, political instability, and the complexities of harmonising different economies and legal systems.
Verification
A Google reverse image search and keyword checks show no official record of a United States of Africa as a political entity. Instead, the idea had been part of pan-Africanist dreams championed by leaders like Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana and Muammar Gaddafi of Libya.
There have been discussions about greater integration, including a common passport called the African Union Passport. However, this passport is only for diplomats and government officials and is not yet available to all Africans.
The images in the Facebook post appear to be digitally created designs. The passport shown does not have official recognition by any African Union document.
A thorough search by DUBAWA shows that the government buildings labelled the United States of Africa do not exist in any African capital city. The Welcome to Capital City of the United States of Africa signboard resembles American highway signs, proving it is a manipulated image.
The researcher subjected the pictures to an AI detector test on fakeimagedetector.com, which suggested computer manipulation or AI generation.
Credible news platforms such as the BBC, Al-Jazeera, and Reuters have not reported the creation of such a federation.
Conclusion
The claim that a United States of Africa currently exists with a passport, capital city, and headquarters is misleading. While the dream of a united Africa has been discussed for decades, there is no evidence that it has been achieved. The images shared are either edited or digitally generated to illustrate an idea, not reality.
