POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC
PROBLEMS FACING VARIOUS
AFRICAN COUNTRIES AND HOW
THEY DEALT WITH THEM.
, PRELOUGE
Most African countries gained independence from the mid-1950s through to the 1970s
and after, the last of which being South Sudan, which gained independence on July 9,
2011.
Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, recognized the need for some type of African regional
security arrangement as early as the 1960s. Although his proposal for an African High
Command to coordinate regional security efforts failed to materialize, African leaders
have continued to acknowledge the requirement for crisis management on the continent.
At independence, African countries found themselves with poor ideologies for sustained
economic growth. This was mainly due to political instability and dictatorship among
African states post-independence. Most exported primary commodities, such as raw
materials, whose values were then determined by world markets. The new states inherited
colonial boundaries which led to mass divisions and the onset of civil wars. These wars
resulted in economic and social misery to the natives of the area and country throughout.
Conflict and misery in the various states tended to spill over into its neighbors' due to
refugees, trans-border movement of guerrilla groups, the disruption of transportation
routes, or the involvement of foreign governments in the internal affairs of African
countries. African nations faced a lot of challenges after gaining independence from
European rule.
Some of the political problems most African countries are as follows;
PERVASIVE INFLUENCE OF THE FORMER COLONIAL
POWERS.
The European countries that had colonised West Africa namely Britain, France and
Portugal, had reluctantly granted independence to their colonies, due to internal
and external pressures. In spite of independence, they still desired to influence the
politics, economy and culture of their former colonies, and often in alliance with
the African rulers themselves. Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana and Sekou Touré of
Guinea (Conakry), were strongly against this practice. They wanted their countries
to completely cut off the yoke of colonialism. This feat though was to be achieved
at a very high price. When Sekou Touré decided to reduce considerably his
country’s ties with France, the French practically destroyed Guinea. They damaged
public infrastructure and took away to France whatever valuable property they
could lay hands on.
PROBLEMS FACING VARIOUS
AFRICAN COUNTRIES AND HOW
THEY DEALT WITH THEM.
, PRELOUGE
Most African countries gained independence from the mid-1950s through to the 1970s
and after, the last of which being South Sudan, which gained independence on July 9,
2011.
Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, recognized the need for some type of African regional
security arrangement as early as the 1960s. Although his proposal for an African High
Command to coordinate regional security efforts failed to materialize, African leaders
have continued to acknowledge the requirement for crisis management on the continent.
At independence, African countries found themselves with poor ideologies for sustained
economic growth. This was mainly due to political instability and dictatorship among
African states post-independence. Most exported primary commodities, such as raw
materials, whose values were then determined by world markets. The new states inherited
colonial boundaries which led to mass divisions and the onset of civil wars. These wars
resulted in economic and social misery to the natives of the area and country throughout.
Conflict and misery in the various states tended to spill over into its neighbors' due to
refugees, trans-border movement of guerrilla groups, the disruption of transportation
routes, or the involvement of foreign governments in the internal affairs of African
countries. African nations faced a lot of challenges after gaining independence from
European rule.
Some of the political problems most African countries are as follows;
PERVASIVE INFLUENCE OF THE FORMER COLONIAL
POWERS.
The European countries that had colonised West Africa namely Britain, France and
Portugal, had reluctantly granted independence to their colonies, due to internal
and external pressures. In spite of independence, they still desired to influence the
politics, economy and culture of their former colonies, and often in alliance with
the African rulers themselves. Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana and Sekou Touré of
Guinea (Conakry), were strongly against this practice. They wanted their countries
to completely cut off the yoke of colonialism. This feat though was to be achieved
at a very high price. When Sekou Touré decided to reduce considerably his
country’s ties with France, the French practically destroyed Guinea. They damaged
public infrastructure and took away to France whatever valuable property they
could lay hands on.
