As most countries in the world move to peaceful and democratic societies, calls for the union of states are coming from different corners of the sphere, and the hopes are becoming more and more of a reality.

In 2004 the European Union (EU) expanded from 15 to 25 countries. In 2007 Croatia, Romania and Bulgaria will increase the number to 28; and by 2012 Turkey, Ukraine and other Eastern European countries might also be welcomed. This would make the EU the biggest Union of States ever.

More than half a century ago, activists around the world started calling for the end to colonization in Africa and the beginning of the unification of African countries. Back then, no one took the words of Marcus Garvey and Malcolm X or the melodies of Bob Marley seriously. A few years ago, Col. Muammar Qaddafi reopened the issue by proposing a borderless United States of Africa. Many called him crazy and a daydreamer. I called him a visionary. Wait a minute - did I say visionary?

In recent years, some African countries have shown their willingness to cross the border from dictatorial regimes to democratic governments. Their seriousness has been shown by their push for free and fair elections, their willingness to remove restrictions on foreign investments, getting rid of quotas in domestic monopoly, and the elimination of government corruption. This is the roadmap to a free-market society.

The governments also joined together and dissolved the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and formed the African Unity (AU) – “Africa’s New Hope.” Skeptics started doubting AU’s survival way before its birth. They questioned the availability of its resource and called for some radical changes in Africa’s politics. AU is now more than five years old; and, although it faces an uphill battle, it has proven it can still stand strong.

And now my question is: Can the AU steer the continent of Africa toward a United States of Africa? In simple terms - is there hope? Hope is zeal for what is possible, and there always is hope. How to achieve it is another thing altogether.

According to the latest UNICEF report, there are fifteen major arms conflicts in Africa. For that reason, the AU Force was started with the hope for a more stable and peaceful Africa. This Force needs to show its boldness by holding peace missions in some of these countries. How the Union tackles the peace-keeping issue means a lot for its credibility in Africa and abroad.

The African continent has suffered the most when it comes to HIV/AIDS virus. The numbers tell a story of devastation. Sub-Saharan Africa has just over 10% of the world’s population but is home to close to two-thirds of all people living with HIV— some 25 million. This disease has left millions of people dead. The life expectancy rate has dropped drastically, and millions of children are now orphans. So far this issue has been handled on a country-by-country basis, and it is time for the Union to approach it as a continent. The determination and willingness to work together to fight this disease will be the beginning of the unification of African unity.

Africa is a home to a lot of minerals and agricultural products - from gold to diamonds to oil, from cotton to coffee to corn. For years these resources have been mismanaged by top leadership. Some have used them to increase their riches. The enactment of better policies by the AU and the signing of better trade agreements between countries, mostly in the African continent, could be a step in the right direction.

The phrase “brain drain” has become a cliché. Every country claims to have been affected by it – some more than others. The African continent has been most affected when it comes to professionals migrating to the West. Therefore, it becomes vital that the AU finds ways to reverse this process for its own advantage. African-born doctors, lawyers, accountants and computer programmers would much rather return to their mother countries to work.

Marcus, Marley and Qaddafi’s dream of a United Africa is still a reality. The integration of the EU started in 1950 and is still growing. Everything starts with the first steps. It is time the AU works on changing its image abroad and proves its skeptics wrong.