Key Idea: Politics in independent Africa to 2005: why new states fell into civil war and coups, why many became one-party states, and how some returned to multi-party democracy.
Conflict and military rule
- Causes: ethnic tension, economic problems, outside interference, weak civilian rule, ideology and personal ambition.
- Nigeria: Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba and Igbo rivalry; coups in 1966; Biafra broke away in 1967.
- Results: suspended constitutions, repression, repeated coups and damaged economies.
- Disease, illiteracy, poverty, famine and neo-colonial exploitation both caused and followed instability.
Ghana and Kenya
| Stage | Ghana | Kenya |
|---|---|---|
| One-party state | Nkrumah's CPP from 1964 | Moi's KANU by law from 1982 |
| Transition | Rawlings (coup 1981), then elections in 1992 and 1996 | Moi won in 1992 and 1997 against a split opposition |
| Handover | Peaceful handover to Kufuor, 2000 | Kibaki's united opposition won in 2002 |
New states fought over ethnicity and power; when the Cold War ended, outside pressure and protest brought back elections.
Why did leaders say one party was needed? For unity and speed, and because Western democracy had 'failed'.
What pushed African states back to multi-party rule? Economic decline, the end of the Cold War, donor conditions and protest at home.
Why did Moi survive two elections? The opposition was split.
What else did growth to 2005 need besides elections? Stability, leadership and investment in infrastructure, all together.