They had supplied the Europeans with supplies and allowed the use of airfields. Almost all new African nations experienced economic difficulties. ... to the problems facing African Countries in. While working as Canada's Secretary of State for Africa and Latin America between 1997 and 2002 and ever since, I have followed the progress of the successor African Union (AU) as closely as possible. In some cases, this led to innovation, but the many challenges that African states faced at independence were often compounded by the lack of experienced leadership. One of the most pressing challenges African states faced at Independence was their lack of infrastructure. In several countries, incumbent long serving political leaders have found ways to manipula… Social challenges that have faced African states since independence Inaccessibility to clean water by majority of the people. 2. European imperialists prided themselves on bringing civilization and developing Africa, but they left their former colonies with little in the way of infrastructure. One of the most pressing challenges African states faced at Independence was their lack of infrastructure. The most famous case of this was the Belgian policies that crystallized the divisions between Hutus and Tutsis in Rwanda that led to the tragic genocide in 1994. THE most frightening thing about post-colonial states, especially Zimbabwe, is that their independence remains under threat from their erstwhile colonisers. The Challenges African States Faced at Independence. Such differences had been largely suppressed under colonial rule. Differences, please. Many, like the Ugandan Railroad, ran straight to the coastline. The transition to national officers at independence meant there were individuals at all levels of the bureaucracy with little prior training. Already a member? Rwanda genocide of 1994. The period after many African countries attained their independence was not an easy sail, as the reality soon dawned on the African populace that flag independence does not necessarily entail economic independence too. Lastly prospects for Africa’s economic progress, focusing on trade reform under the current political arrangement and in the context of globalisation, is assessed. inherent in the African way of doing things. A 2010 Amnesty International report on human rights in Africa found that nepotism impedes community access to housing and services, and … You can opt-out at any time. They had gained political, not economic dependencies, and as Kwame Nkrumah - the first prime minister and president of Ghana - knew, political independence without economic independence was meaningless. In 1966, Nkrumah was overthrown. European involvement on the continent led to the destruction and mixing of local African cultures and traditions. In the conference's declaration, he wrote, “we believe in the rights of all peoples to govern … What are the positive and negative effects of imperialism in Africa during World War I? the new challenges of globalisation. Log in here. Thompsell, Angela. WWII was fought to protect countries’ right to freedom and from Centre College M.A. Some leaders, like Kwame Nkrumah, tried to rectify this by taking on massive building projects, like the Volta River hydroelectric dam project. The issue of transportation and logistical challenges on the African continent is one so fundamentally rooted in the pace of development across the continent that one can easily see the link between the more developed African nations, their transportation networks and economic growth, compared to their African counterparts. The lower echelons of the colonial government had long been staffed by African subjects, but the higher ranks had been reserved for white officials. The capacity of Africa's food production was diminished while cash crops production was continued to increase (Ibid, 300).Another problem during this period was the shortage of skilled manpower. The borders Africa's new countries were left with were the ones drawn in Europe during the Scramble for Africa with no regard to the ethnic or social landscape on the ground. 1. The report says, African countries have undergone two forms of governance liberation, yet remain stuck in the middle of a third one. https://www.thoughtco.com/challenges-african-states-faced-at-independence-43754 (accessed March 16, 2021). Even though many African countries joined the United Nations after independence, the United Nations failed to provide significant help. Many African countries were not divided along tribal lines, making to difficult to establish a unified state. They were also locked into cycles of dependencies on their former European masters. Transportation…… Arguably the single biggest infrastructural challenge that has held back the African continent for decades. Imperial roads and railways were almost always intended to facilitate the export of raw materials. Updated July 07, 2019. The leaders of these countries were, thus, left with the challenge of trying to forge a sense of national identity at a time when those seeking a stake in the new country were often playing to individuals' regional or ethnic loyalties. What is a "culture of impunity" and how does it relate to the "rule of law" ? Below are challenges faced by African states at independence. What was the influence and impact of colonialism on Africa in terms of culture, religion, politics, economy, education, and theater? "The Challenges African States Faced at Independence." In Africa, most of the nation-states are actually fairly young. When African states gained their independence from Europe’s colonial empires, they faced numerous challenges starting with their lack of infrastructure. Another common issue experienced by African nations was a lack of a national identity. There was also a distinct lack of trained and experienced civil leadership. For example, the first prime minister of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah, had the support of his people at the time of independence. The politicians who were to meet the challenges were young and inexperienced. These combined challenges made it difficult to establish strong economies or political stability in Africa and contributed to the upheaval that many (but not all!) This work focuses on the early years of independence and the problems African countries faced soon after the end of colonial rule. In what ways... How did African countries reach independence? study of the performances of Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and Congo since independence along with sporadic references to other countries in the region compared to countries in other parts of the world in an effort to shade more light as to why the region continues to lag behind. (2020, August 26). ThoughtCo, Aug. 26, 2020, thoughtco.com/challenges-african-states-faced-at-independence-43754. For example, even though the U.N. did resolve problems in Congo, the organization didn’t even attempt to prevent republic governments … The main challenge that Africans faced when they gained independence from colonial rule was the question of how to build a stable system of government. By coincidence, I observed part of the last meeting of the Organization of African Union (OAU) in Addis Ababa in early July, 2002. African Union and the Challenges of Underdevelopment in Contemporary Africa. After World War II, colonial empires quickly became politically untenable, and European powers were forced to grant their African colonies independence, with varying amounts of haste. Nepotism. 4. Socialism in Africa and African Socialism, Countries in Africa Considered Never Colonized, A Brief History of the African Country of Liberia, The Granger Laws and the Granger Movement, Ph.D., History, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, M.A., History, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, B.A./B.S, History and Zoology, University of Florida. The main challenge that Africans faced when they gained independence from colonial rule was the question of how to build a stable system of government. The 1960s was generally regarded as the decade of African independence or liberation. We’ve discounted annual subscriptions by 50% for COVID-19 relief—Join Now! were extremely weak and there was massive poverty. from University of Louisville, Top subjects are History, Literature, and Law and Politics. Which Asian Nations Were Never Colonized by Europe? After independence, they lacked the balance between agriculture and industry that is needed for economic stability. And these challenges vary from different region of the continent. Analyze the effects of the Age of Exploration on Africa and on the Americas. European imperialists prided themselves on bringing civilization and developing Africa, but they left their former colonies with little in the way of infrastructure. In Abyssinia, what was the Wal Wal Incident? LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE. European imperialists prided themselves on bringing civilization and developing Africa, but they left their former colonies with little in the way of infrastructure. In Angola, the international support that the government and rebel factions received in the Cold War led to a civil war that lasted nearly thirty years. African countries demanded independence after they assisted Europeans during the fighting of World War II. ©2021 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Last Updated by eNotes Editorial on June 8, 2020, Last Updated by eNotes Editorial on June 11, 2020. In terms of political Start your 48-hour free trial to unlock this answer and thousands more. Post-independence African political system is characterized by ethnic based exclusion and marginalization. Thompsell, Angela. Cold War politics also presented an opportunity for factions that sought to challenge the new governments. The issue is seen from the perspective of the dynamics of development in what was in 1900 an overwhelmingly land-abundant region characterised by shortages of labour and capital, by perhaps … Many new African nations depended on a single crop or mineral resource. The issues relating to the easy transportation of especially peri… Different political priorities; African countries after independence to date do not have the same social, political or economic priorities because each country faced different challenges, for example Tanganyika priority were fighting against poverty, ignorance , disease, bring development etc. When independence was granted, European powers delineated the borders of new... (The entire section contains 5 answers and 1219 words.). A number of challenges face the continent in the 21st century. The push and pull between the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) made non-alignment a difficult, if not impossible, option, and those leaders who tried to carve third way generally found they had to take sides. Inadequate investment in sustainable agriculture and significant social protection remain the major blocks to enhancing food availability. Their colonial economies had been tied to their imperialist rulers. The lack of infrastructure also meant that African countries were dependent on Western economies for much of their energy. Even oil-rich countries did not have the refineries needed to turn their crude oil into gasoline or heating oil. Rich as many African countries were in cash crops and minerals, they could not process these goods themselves. "The Challenges African States Faced at Independence." At Independence, there were several presidents, like Jomo Kenyatta, had several decades of political experience, but others, like Tanzania's Julius Nyerere, had entered the political fray just years before independence. There is also general lack of transparency among many leaders. Having colonies was increasing seen as a negative way of ruling. ... political independence of post-colon ial African . states faced between the late '60s and late '90s. Tanzania at independence had 12 graduates; the gain of independence in Tanganyika by then was not only a success toward economic development. African nations faced many challenges after gaining independence from European rule. What effects did the slave trade have on Africa? However the African situation is not as bleak as portrayed in the media or by Africanists. During this period most African countries The subjects of these colonies often had many identities that trumped their sense of being, for instance, Ghanaian or Congolese. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/challenges-african-states-faced-at-independence-43754. However, he was overthrown by the year 1966 because Ghana had amassed insurmountable debt under his leadership. Starting in 1945 Pan-African Congress, Gold Coast's British- and American-educated independence leader Kwame Nkrumah made his focus clear. Thompsell, Angela. Their economies were dependent on trade, and this made them vulnerable. One of the most pressing challenges African states faced at Independence was their lack of infrastructure. The dam did provide much-needed electricity, but its construction put Ghana heavily into debt. all po-litical systems are subject to the growing pains and the new african states Surely everyone out there knows what we celebrate every year on July 4th. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. In Central Africa states was crisis of nationhood, which Congo woke up from her independence to civil war that divided the state into two halves. Limited economies. July 4th, 1776 was the day our Declaration of Independence was ratified, and so it represents the foundation of our nationhood. But other countries throughout the world have not been independent quite so long. Access to financing Immediately after decolonization, the new African states agreed to a policy of inviolable borders, meaning they would not try to redraw Africa's political map as that would lead to chaos. African Union. This week African leaders gather in Johannesburg for the 25th African Union Summit, where they will discuss a range of topics, from ongoing conflicts to trade. Colonial policies that privileged one group over another or allocated land and political rights by "tribe" exacerbated these divisions. Enjoy eNotes ad-free and cancel anytime. Among the major disadvantages of the continent at the dawn of the twenty-first century are also the low level of education of many Africans, the lack of modern techniques of production, transport, etc.., a fragmented political space and the extrovert structure of the economies. One of the most pressing challenges African states faced at Independence was their lack of infrastructure. after the preliminary euphoria there were countless problems to contend with. States in Africa has encountered grave challenges on nation building. What will likely not appear on the agenda, however, are the governance challenges that are holding citizens across Africa back. For example, Ghana depended on cocoa, Zambia on … B.A. Shortly after independence, many African nations experienced political turmoil through military intervention in politics, which directly suspended democratic process. That there are problems in Africa for several decades even after many countries in the continent went through transitions from colonialism to independence, is not a deniable fact. The purpose of Democracy in Africa is to assess the level of democratic practice and to identify and analyze the political changes and challenges facing African countries. These new countries also lacked the manufacturing infrastructure to add value to their raw materials. Top subjects are Literature, History, and Law and Politics, Top subjects are Literature, History, and Business, Top subjects are History, Social Sciences, and Literature, Top subjects are History, Literature, and Social Sciences, Latest answer posted October 20, 2018 at 5:54:08 AM. But under independence they came to the surface once more, causing severe problems for many of the new nation states. Paper reveals Although these challenges varied from country to country, it is widely agreed that many of the challenges African countries faced, and still face today, were caused by European interventions on the continent. Include specific effects of the Atlantic slave trade. The construction also required the relocation of tens of thousands of Ghanaians and contributed to Nkrumah's plummeting support in Ghana. On 6 March 1957, Ghana (formerly the Gold Coast) became the second sub-Saharan African country to gain its independence from European colonisation. Now, many African countries are facing a struggle of getting proper democratic governance. Climate change has also adversely affected many countries in Africa and compromised their ability to feed their people. Africa faces significant challenges in reaching these goals. Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. Post- independence African Economy Before one embarks on the venturesome task of trying to assess the economics of post- independence African economy, it is worth to discuss on the interplay of politics and economics. What Is Colonialism? We celebrate our independence from Great Britain! Corruption and embezzlement of public funds is common in African countries. Many of these states did not becom… What are the problems facing Uganda today? eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. Angela Thompsell, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of British and African History at SUNY Brockport. http://exhibitions.nypl.org/africanaage/essay-challenge-o... https://www.thoughtco.com/challenges-african-states-faced... https://www.e-ir.info/2012/05/25/the-divisive-nature-of-e... What are some of the negative and positive effects of the slave trade on Africa and its people? ThoughtCo. fight for independence: 3. This article reviews how colonial rule and African actions during the colonial period affected the resources and institutional settings for subsequent economic development south of the Sahara. For more details, see our Privacy Policy. Africa’s regional integration in historical perspective After independence regional integration became a pillar of Africa’s developmental Other notable challenges include challenges emanating from Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and Export Processing Zones (EPZs) regimes as well as those of Investments Promotion Authorities; the delayed adoption of the EAC Industrialisation Policy and Strategy, and the long overdue EAC Sanitary Phytosanitary (SPS) Protocol. Definition and Examples, A Brief History of Ghana Since Independence. How did the Berlin Conference of 1884 affect Africa? First, it was the struggle for independence from the colonial rule then liberation from dictatorships that merged from independence. One of the more common issues newly independent African countries faced was a lack of experienced leadership. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. These include colonial legacy; foreign aid; foreign direct investment (FDI); the climate change debate, Africa and the challenge of the MDGs; and cultural diplomacy as a new tool. Below are some of the important issues that we, as African People, need to work on collectively, in a proactive manner, to achieve inclusive growth, social and economic development (in alphabetical order): Agricultural development (food security) Most African nations started gaining their independence in the mid-1950s through 1975. The empires had built roads and railroads - or rather, they had forced their colonial subjects to build them - but these were not intended to build national infrastructures. Finally, decolonization coincided with the Cold War, which presented another challenge for African states.