Africa, Asia and Europe in the Medieval Ages were ruled by Kings. Today Europe have become the beacon of democracy. Most of the Asian countries has become middle income. Today’s Africa Democratic of Congo was a sizeable kingdom known as Kingdom of Kongo with its capital, Mbanza so was Ethiopia a Kingdom ruled by kings. Europeans transformed from kingdom to democracy; into a high income country and Asians are fast advancing to the Europeans standard. Africa on the other hand is worst of than it was during the Kingdom years. Unlike Europe and Asia who formed strong states Africans could not fathom strong State and that has forced Africa backward.
African governments have failed; Africans are destabilised, subject to civil wars, rebellions, coups and famine. Case in point: civil war in Somalia, Nigeria, Mali, Libya and Niger. Senegal civil disobedience divided along colonial languages English speakers against French speakers are a direct failure of a strong state. The Ethiopian Federal Democratic government dominated by the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) came to power in 1991 turning the state into chaos. The TPLF for twenty seven (27) years gamed and disposed the political system implemented patrimonial state for private gain, rent seeking, and clienteles. Involving large scale exchanges of favor. Fractured the country along ethnic lines Oromo, Amhara, Tigrye dismantling the Nation. built the state around ethnicities. Using its institutions looted billion if not trillions of US dollars enriching the ruling elite and put the country in so much debt. Ethiopia was governed by powerful TPLF elites who took advantages to enrich themselves at everyone else’s expense.
Why hasn’t African countries developed? Political theories and social scientist articulate that African leaders have failed to build a nation and a strong state.
Great article.
Thanks Senait!