Political Issues in Post-Colonial Africa
History is one of the keys to understanding politics in post-colonial Africa. The reasons for political violence, authoritarian governments, or corruption in some African countries are complex. They do not reflect the inability of Africans to govern themselves.
The key components of the political legacy of colonialism were:
Post-colonial politics 1960 -1990
Most of the problems facing the first African governments after independence belong to three large categories:
At their independence, each Africa country had a constitution that established the “rules and regulations” of government.
One of the ways to deal with political crisis is to change the system of government. These changes weren’t necessarily for the better.
Military Governments
Almost all African countries that gained their independence in the 1960s started out with multiparty systems. Within a decade, only a handful of African countries maintained a multiparty system. By 1970, half of the independent countries in Africa had military governments.
Due to the weak political systems inherited from the colonial era, the first African governments did not have the capacity to govern effectively. Military leaders, afraid that their countries would fail politically, decided that they could do a better job of governing.
The military governments in Africa were no more successful than civilian governments at addressing the political, social, and economic issues facing their countries. Furthermore, military regimes are undemocratic.
Source: Politics and Government in Post-Colonial Africa
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