With current events in Africa like military coups, public demonstrations against governments, and unending foreign interference, today we cannot help but ask several questions. Furthermore, these questions have been asked for decades now.
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Credit - United State Institute of Peace |
Did Africa declare itself independent? Was the struggle for independence fought to complete victory? Are the African people fully protected from foreign dominance and interference of whatever nature?
If Africa is a united and independent continent, some will ask; Why are we still balkanized into numerous porous states? Why do we still confine and restrict ourselves within invisible and outdated colonial borders? Why do African states still heavily depend on foreign aid to boost their economic budgets?
Africa’s Independence Movements
Owing to these numerous questions, it is evident that Africa’s independence was fought but not to a complete victory. By the treacherous methods from the colonial masters, our ancestors' struggle for independence was compromised a big time. Therefore, it is not extreme to conclude that Africa’s freedom was awarded was served majorly in the interest of the colonizers.
Even though our ancestors fought, bled, and died for the liberation, indeed, most of their dreams have not been realized as intended. For instance, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah visioned the Union of African States but Africa is yet to formulate it almost sixty years later.
Why Compare Africa’s Independence to Others?
In terms of objectives and purpose, colonization by Western powers was similar across all people that came in contact with it. In this article, I am going to compare Africa’s independence to other developing states that were victims of foreign influence. States whose struggle against colonialism was carried out at the same time as Africa’s. States whose conditions and grievances were more or less similar to that of Africa at the time of their struggle against imperialism and colonialism.
This comparison arises from the fact that Africa’s condition after the so-called independence is still unsatisfying compared to its counterparts. And that development of African states has taken a snail-speed trajectory accompanied by corrupt leadership and rampant impunity.
There are several states whose quest for independence was similar to Africa's. In this piece, I will look particularly at Vietnam, a communist state who faced similar problems of imperialism and colonialism as Africa. I am amazed at how Vietnam struggles achieved better results compared to Africa and that raises the question; why?
Furthermore, several developing nations today are doing way better than African states in terms of political and economic independence, after decades of struggle against foreign dominance or interference. States who were nowhere compared to Africa in the mid-20th century.
Brief History of Vietnam's Struggle for Liberation
Up until 1945, French Union had been colonizing Indochina for a century. As World War two climaxed, Japanese aggression stepped foot in Vietnam. An act that attracted major players like the USA and its allies.
Led by determined leaders like Ho Chi Minh, Vietnamese people witnessed one of the longest liberation wars of the 20th Century. Right after the fall of Japan which consequently ended world war two, Vietnamese leaders moved without hesitation to free their country from foreign rule. And, to prevent the French from retaking back its old colony.
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Vietnam is a communist state in South East Asia. It shares borders with China, Laos, and Cambodia |
The French were finally defeated in the battle of Dien Bien Phu which saw them surrender most of their Indochina colonies. Vietnam pronounced its declaration of independence when it chose to resist any imperialistic relationship. Even if it meant a widespread war.
What was to follow for Vietnam was a three-decade-long liberation war with their ally turned foe, the USA. While Ho Chi Minh led the revolution, Vietnam Liberation Front, popularly known as Viet Cong, waged a guerrilla war against the imperialists. They were determined to rid Vietnam of imperial rule and unite their country under a communist rule.
Unlike some African leaders during the struggle for independence, Vietnam leaders never betrayed one another. They were never obsessed with power and never compromised the movement. It was amazing that Ho Chi Mihn was sharing power with other top leaders during his last days.
He was open to working with his people for the common good. He neither had a family of his own nor lived a lavish lifestyle. Uncle Ho, as he was popularly known, dedicated his life to Vietnamese independence.
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Africa’s father of independence, Dr. Kwame Nkurumah was betrayed by his government, exiled and later on overthrown in a coup. Patrice Lumumba of DRC was also arrested by colonialists and assassinated by a firing squad. African leaders at that time were hesitant to take action! Burkina Faso's Thomas Sankara is believed to have been conspired against by his fellow countryman, Blaise Campaore.
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Africa's Father of Independence - Dr. Kwame Nkurumah |
In Kenya, the Kenya Freedom and Land Army (KFLA) popular known as Mau Mau and its leader Dedan Kimathi were betrayed. Particularly Dedan Kimathi was believed to have been betrayed by his comrades. Surprisingly, the first founding father led by the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta later denounced Mau Mau as a threat to national security.
The list is endless. On the contrary, Vietnamese people stood with their leadership against the aggressors. They supported the revolution and its leaders. Long after Uncle Ho's passing, the Viet Cong finally liberated their country and immediately renamed Saigon City to Ho Chi Minh City.
It didn’t matter how long the Vietnamese fought; their independence mattered most to them. Vietnam's leadership allowed no room for compromise, neither by the puppet Saigon administration nor intense bombing by the USA air force. They were determined for independence, fought and bled for it.
According to My Life Elsewhere, as of 2020, Vietnam had twice the Growth Domestic Produce (GDP) per capita than that of Nigeria. They also revealed that as of 2018, 6.7% of people in Vietnam lived below the poverty line compared to Nigeria’s 40.1%.
After Vietnam was severely ravaged by the USA's operation Rolling Thunder which involved the massive bombing of Vietnam's strategic infrastructure, it was logical that it was going to take a long time to rebuild. They did it anyway!
Any gap that exists between Vietnam and any state in Africa therefore, can only be well explained by the quality of leadership in both countries after achieving independence.
The majority of Africans are confident that Africa is rich enough to stand on its own. That majority, however, do not understand that it is our leadership that is compromised. It is because our nation-states are ill-managed, marred with rampant corruption and impunity that the colonial powers keep playing with us like a cat does with a mouse.
Unlike several African states today, Vietnam is no puppet state to its former colonial masters. Its founding fathers ensured that its independence was genuinely achieved even when it meant creating powerful enemies and leading to the death of several Vietnamese.
Africa's Current Situation
Currently, there is a whirlwind of a struggle for regime change in Africa through military coups, public demos against some governments of the day, and several concerned political parties denouncing imperialism and neocolonialism in African states.
These waves of change are an indications that African people are not contented with the independence that was 'awarded' to them by former colonialists.
Pan-Africans and other African patriots of the 21st century are indeed fed up with puppet administrations that are 'bootlicking' the colonial master and serving their interests while betraying their people.
African people are waking up and are determined for independence, without foreign influence and dictation.
Study properly the independence movements in the USA, the Bolshevik revolution in Russia led by Lenin, the Chinese revolution led by Chairman Mao, the Cuban revolution led by Fidel Castro, the Islamic revolution in Iran led by Ayatollah Khomeini, etc. You will understand why this article is so concerned with leadership and why leadership is the key to the genuine independence of any people.
Africa, once its citizens fight for genuine independence as it has started in some Africa countries, will be in a position to choose its allies from a position of power and not desperation.
African leaders, once they get back to their senses and reestablish order and sanity in our nation-states, will see the sense of developing our backyard before swelling their offshore bank accounts. Until then, as Bob Marley puts it, "There will be war." Nothing but liberational war.
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