Democratic Challenges in Africa

Decolonization European powers did little to prepare African colonies for independence European boundaries divided ethnic and cultural divisions No national identities After independence, old colonial boundaries became borders for new countries Colonies had grown cash crops instead of products to serve the Africans

Democracy? Newly independent nations lacked literate and skilled workers Rival ethnic groups fought for power Military dictatorships replaced democracies Decolonization Video

Nigeria Peacefully won independence in 1960 Largest oil producer in Africa, 11th in the world in 2011 3 major ethnic groups

Civil War 1967-1970 Hausa-Fulani (Northern Muslims) vs Igbo (Southern Christians) Igbo badly outnumbered, lost 1-3 million died (most from starvation) Military controlled the government until first civilian president was elected in 1999 Current President Muhammadu Buhari

South Africa Racial conflict resulted from colonial rule A small white minority ruled a large black majority Apartheid- complete separation of races Began segregation of schools, hospitals, neighborhoods homelands- reserves set up for black groups Blacks forbidden to live in white areas unless they were servants

Resistance Nelson Mandela- Leader of the ANC (African National Congress) Jailed in 1960 for being in the ANC Desmond Tutu- Black bishop, led an economic campaign against South Africa, won the Nobel peace prize in 1984 Mandela Tutu

Apartheid laws were abolished Mandela was elected president in 1994 1990, President Klerk legalized the ANC and released Mandela from prison Apartheid laws were abolished Mandela was elected president in 1994 1996- new constitution, guaranteed equal rights, forbid discrimination, guaranteed right to travel Current President Jacob Zuma

Rwanda Belgium colonized Congo and Rwanda during imperialism The Belgian authorities considered the Hutus and Tutsis different races and, in 1935, introduced identity cards labeling each individual as either Tutsi, Hutu, or Twa Tutsi were considered aristocracy because of their appearance (more attractive to the Belgians, smaller noses)

The Belgians dropped support for the existing hierarchy by favoring the Hutu party. 1959 Rwandan Revolution: Hutu activists began killing Tutsis, forcing more than 100,000 to seek refuge in neighboring countries. In 1962, the now pro-Hutu Belgians held a referendum and elections in which the country voted to abolish the monarchy. Cycles of violence took place during the following years. Rebel exiled Tutsis attacked from neighboring countries and Hutus retaliated with large-scale slaughter and repression of Tutsis within Rwanda.

In 1990, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), a rebel group composed mostly of Tutsi refugees, invaded northern Rwanda from Uganda, initiating the Rwandan Civil War. Despite continuing ethnic strife, including Hutu displacement from RPF-controlled areas and violence against Tutsis in the south, the two sides agreed to a cease-fire in 1993 The cease-fire ended on April 6, 1994

Think about it… Who is to blame for the instability in Africa? What should America’s role be in Africa? What should the UN’s role be in Africa? What are 3 ways to stop racism, hatred, and genocide in Africa? Why are there so many diseases and famine in Africa? Did the Atlantic Slave Trade allow for imperialism? How can Africa be transformed into the 21st century?