Recent comments and condemnations by the AU, ECOWAS, and some African leaders like Kenya’s William Ruto of the Niger coup, are significant indicators of how the current heads of the continent are disconnected and out of touch with the pulse of Africa. Their perspectives lack a fundamental understanding of the continent’s state, which may not be coincidental given the occurrences of coups.
These leaders have failed to address the core issues affecting the continent; instead, they often resort to shortsighted and reactive attitudes. The continent grapples with high unemployment, stemming from the export of raw materials and the absence of industrialization, both perpetuated by the very individuals who offer condemnations.
Foreign military invasions, some of which contribute to destabilization, have further exacerbated the situation. These heads of state, possibly driven by fear, shift blame onto the African populace rather than addressing the real culprits. When demands for economic and social mobility arise, they frequently invoke the card of democracy.
However, democracy, intended to be a means to an end—namely, economic and social progress—has transformed into an end in itself. It has become an unchanging doctrine, regardless of whether it delivers for African people or not. This is what the African people are rebelling against: they assert that democracy should serve as a means to achieve rapid economic and social advancement. If it falls short, it must be scrutinized, as it is now.
The solution shouldn’t be to impose a religious-like doctrine on African people that fails to meet their expectations. Instead, there should be an earnest examination of why this system isn’t delivering, with adjustments made genuinely and promptly. Otherwise, the continent could face a confrontational situation.
In Ghana, when citizens questioned expenditures, corruption, and the lack of economic and social progress, rumors of a coup spread to mainstream media. The major political parties swiftly appealed to the military to refrain from staging a coup, all while emphasizing democracy as the sole solution. The military and security forces received a 300% salary increase in this purported beacon of democracy. The military was deployed to suppress and intimidate a small town’s inhabitants, seemingly as a warning against resistance or coup attempts.
Rather than addressing system weaknesses, there is a persistent reliance on authoritarian tactics. In the east, Museveni’s military-backed reign of 37 years has failed to uplift the country from poverty to developed status. In South Africa, a prominent economy, leaders are aware of the issue—namely, the concentration of resources, including land, in the hands of a minority.
However, there is a lack of resolve to confront this problem. The military, designed to protect the continent’s interests, has been rendered ineffective, occasionally relying on foreign experts for guidance. When it’s turned against the African people, those who neglect and misuse it voice complaints.
Comparatively, the whites who already control 54% of global GDP and hold significant land acquired their positions through historical injustices, including genocides. African leaders, on the other hand, seem too willing to accept the plight of their people while enjoying opulence. Excuses of slow progress, rationalized as a result of democracy, fail to address the challenge.
Progress exists, but its pace doesn’t align with Africa’s rapid population growth. This is a material issue that cannot be resolved through democracy as a religious doctrine. Democracy should be evaluated based on its ability to deliver swift economic and social advancement.
Addressing Africa’s problems necessitates the unity of the entire continent and the cessation of foreign interference, which has hindered independent action. A unified entity can provide the courage for self-reliance and access to Africa’s existing GDP of 3.5 trillion dollars. This alone can serve as a foundation for capital and industrialization, obviating the need to seek external investments. The potential is there if Africa unifies, safeguards its resources, and uses its existing assets to propel rapid progress.
