One thing I have never quite enjoyed encountering from many African writers and intellectuals is this overemphasis on conflating many of Africa’s issues in the modern day with our past of colonial rule and/ or any form foreign influences; either from Western Nations, Russia, China, etc.
While on the one hand it would be silly to argue that Africa’s history of colonial oppression hasn’t had major impacts on the continent, which extend even into the present. It would similarly be ignorant to claim that foreign influence of larger, wealthier nations such as the USA, China, France, Russia, etc., don’t have major influence over our governments, because they clearly do.
I have seen these types of sentiments being used to simplify some of the issues faced by Africa by simply blaming it on these external forces. There are still many africans who live in poverty? Well that because of the vast amounts of wealth exploited by Europeans during colonialism. There are ethnic conflicts taking place on the African continent? Well that is because during the colonial era, large groups of differing ethnic communities were grouped together by colonial powers, without any regard for differences in culture, language and religious practices.
Why are African countries in so much debt? Because the Chinese government has been using a form debt-trap diplomacy to gain power over African nations. Why is Africa so resource rich; yet many of its inhabitants are destitute? Because foreign companies exploit Africa’s resources. Why are so many highly skilled Africans moving abroad? Because developed nations are taking advantage of the fact that they can offer them higher wages, due to their stronger currencies.
While there is obviously some truth in those statements, what they often fail to explain are the actions taken by African governments that have also contributed in a major way towards towards many of these problems.
My grievance with these sentiments has always been that they often seem to pin the majority (if not all) the blame for many of the problems faced by African nations at the feet of these external forces. I believe that this is a problem, because it provides an excuse for the failure of many of Africa’s governments.
These kind of sentiments usually present African nation’s almost as these passive beings without any sort of agency whatsoever. It’s as if African governments just sit back and watch as all these bad things to happen, because of these external forces, without playing any sort of role in it whatsoever, which is obviously not the case.
Many of the problems faced by African nations are a result of corruption and the economic mismanagement by our governments. Yes foreign forces do play a part, however, it is more often than not, a result of the presence of our corrupt politicians that are the biggest contributors.
Yes, Africa’s resources are being exploited by foreign companies. However, much of that exploitation often happens in collaboration with our self-serving politicians. Rather than the wealth gained from our countries’ resources being used to better the lives of citizens, that wealth is often hoarded by politicians and those in positions of power.
While it’s true that African nations hold substantial debt to Chinese creditors, it’s important to acknowledge that these loans were voluntarily accepted by African governments. Despite being aware of the associated risks, they proceeded to take on loans, often without any clear plan of paying them off. Moreover, it’s not just Chinese loans that African governments have taken on; loans from Western nations have also been acquired, often without thorough consideration of potential benefits or clear repayment strategies.
It is also true that for many young Africans, if they are given the opportunity to go abroad and work, they will usually more than willing to take those opportunities. If they have the opportunity to earn more money abroad than at home; they are full within their rights to make that decision. Moreover, it is typically because of the corruption and economic mismanagement by African governments that many younger Africans typically lack opportunities at home.
It is true that there have been numerous ethnic conflicts in Africa as a result of the mapping out of Africa by European colonial powers. Africa’s borders did not account for ethnic, religious or linguistic differences between African tribes, when they had been first established. However, it is also worth pointing out that following the independence of Africa nations; it was the newly independent African governments that sought to maintain those colonial era borders, rather than redrawing them with a greater sense of potential divisions between ethnic communities.
It’s time to move beyond the narrative of African governments as mere bystanders in our countries’ challenges. We must acknowledge and address their responsibility in these issues. While foreign influences have undoubtedly played a role, we cannot excuse the failures of African governments in driving our economic development forward. It’s imperative that we hold them accountable and actively work towards improving governance and fostering sustainable growth in our nations.
