The State of Africa: Book Review Excerpts …“Virtually without exception, the jumble of artificial states left behind by departing colonial powers like Britain, France, Belgium and Portugal descended rapidly into one-party states ruled by violence, spectacular corruption and ethnic cliques intent only on grabbing power and accumulating loot. Assets and revenues of the state were merely spoils to be stolen at will by all and sundry politicians and officials. Individuals or ethnic groups who seemed likely to impede the feeding frenzy were attacked with unbridled ferocity.
One struggles to find any morality, any sense of duty to the nation or even common decency among the sordid thugs and thieves who grabbed power while mouthing slogans about "democracy" and "the people" as if they were upright guardians of liberty and stalwart defenders of the national interest.
……….. Tribalism was certainly one factor. Most of these countries were utterly unprepared for democratic processes. In the first place, the primary loyalties of an individual were to his family, tribe and ethnic group. Few, if any, had any meaningful loyalty to "the nation" as understood in Europe or America, for example. Naturally, political candidates in elections sought to garner support through tribal or ethnic appeals. Few of the newly independent African countries were free of major ethnic or religious tensions.
Another factor is the failure of colonial rulers to develop an educated class of professionals to run their countries. Political and bureaucratic office was simply regarded as a route to enrichment - not as service to the nation. Education standards were generally low, leaving the mass of people susceptible to demagoguery and empty promises.”
“The continent has been cursed with corrupt, incompetent and greedy leaders who never cared for their subjects. There have been at least 40 successful and many more unsuccessful coup attempts these 5 decades. The latest fashion is to hold sham elections. In oil producing countries like Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria and Cameroon, all the oil money ends up in the pockets of small ruling cliques while ordinary people subsist in misery.
But always the pattern repeats: coup d'etat, cruelty, misery, murder, refugees and the collapse of infrastructure. No matter how much money the West throws at the problem. Africa has had the equivalent of six "Marshall Plans" but the money ends up in Swiss bank accounts. Since independence, the Nigerian elites have stolen about $350 billion.”
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Taunet Neelel ..... New Beginning .....