Why did new African states fall into conflict? Causes, impacts and challenges (Nigeria & Ghana to the 1970s)
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Flip to reveal answersName four named causes of ethnic conflict, civil war and military intervention in post-independence Africa.
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All 12 Flashcards — Why did new African states fall into conflict? Causes, impacts and challenges (Nigeria & Ghana to the 1970s)
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Question
Name four named causes of ethnic conflict, civil war and military intervention in post-independence Africa.
Answer
Ethnic tensions, economic problems, destabilization by outside forces, and inefficiency of civilian governments (also ideology and personal ambition).
Question
What is a coup d'état?
Answer
The sudden, illegal seizure of power, usually by the military, overthrowing the existing government.
Question
Why did artificial colonial borders cause conflict after independence?
Answer
Borders drawn by European powers grouped rival ethnic groups into one state or split a single group across two states, so new governments had to rule over people with no shared identity or trust.
Question
Give an example of ethnic tension leading to civil war.
Answer
Nigeria: Igbo people in the south-east felt excluded and threatened after anti-Igbo violence in the north, and declared independence as Biafra in 1967, starting the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970).
Question
How did the Cold War destabilize African states from outside?
Answer
The USA and USSR armed and funded rival factions or governments to win influence, turning local disputes into bigger, longer, bloodier conflicts (e.g. arms and support flowing to different sides in African civil wars).
Question
What made many civilian governments in newly independent Africa inefficient?
Answer
Weak institutions inherited from colonial rule, corruption, lack of trained administrators, ethnic favouritism in appointments, and economies still shaped for colonial export rather than the needs of citizens.
Question
What was a common justification military leaders gave for seizing power?
Answer
They claimed civilian governments were corrupt, weak or failing, and that the army had to step in to restore order, unity and effective government.
Question
What were three typical impacts of military rule in Africa?
Answer
Suspension of constitutions and elections, censorship and repression of opposition, and concentration of power and wealth around the ruler and army (patronage).
Question
Give an example of the impact of prolonged military rule.
Answer
Nigeria: repeated coups (1966, 1975, 1983, 1985) and long stretches of military rule (e.g. under Sani Abacha, 1993-1998) delayed democratic development and were marked by human rights abuses.
Question
What does 'neo-colonial economic exploitation' mean?
Answer
Even after political independence, former colonial powers and foreign companies kept economic control — buying raw materials cheaply and selling manufactured goods back at high prices, keeping African economies dependent.
Question
List four social/economic challenges facing post-independence African states.
Answer
Disease, illiteracy, poverty and famine — worsened by neo-colonial economic exploitation that kept economies dependent on exporting raw materials.
Question
Why does poverty help explain civil war and coups, not just result from them?
Answer
Poverty and economic problems fed frustration with the government, gave military leaders a justification to intervene ('the civilians failed us'), and civil wars then destroyed infrastructure, deepening poverty further — cause and effect fed each other in a cycle.
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Topic 21.18 hub
Post-independence politics in Africa to 2005
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