Contested Governments and Governance Modes

This chapter argues that the form of African governments is significantly contested. The totalitarian nature of governance of many pre-colonial polities and the link of governance structures to traditions and ethnicity continues to challenge peace and stability in Africa. It also argues that the evolutionary inability to change leaders remains a potent security threat to most African states. In summary, the problem of democracy (how to gain power) and the problem of governance (how to exercise power). The ability to always split in the time of conflict in pre-colonial political development has left African traditions without indigenous inter-group conflict management and resolution methods and experiences. This must not be confused with legendary traditional intra-group (person to person) conflict resolution mechanisms.