Question

1. As nations in Africa gained independence from colonial powers, some made relatively smooth transitions to self-rule while others experienced violence and upheaval. In some nations, the violence continues even today. What might have been done to help those nations transition to self-rule peacefully? Write a short essay that sets forth ideas on ways that violence and civil war might have been prevented.

Answer 1

African input on the borders would have prevented some of the violent unrest.

Being Europeans drew the border lines, they did not understand tribal, ethnic, and religious differences between the native groups and this led to haphazard border lines.

Therefore, countries contained very different people who had been enemies before and/or during the colonial period. The feelings of resentment were allowed to resurface as groups fought for power power. This led to violent civil war and even genocide like in Rwanda. If the native groups would have been allowed to create their own borders, nation-states would have been created which would have led to unity and a more peaceful transition.

Answer 2

The reason why some nations were more prosperous and were faster to acheive economic prosperity was due to multiple reasons. Some have had multiple and violent military coups which obviously played a big role in their violent transitions. Other experienced violent civil wars because different cultures had to live together. These two things both played a very important devastating role in the violent transitions.

What could have been done would have been that they would redraw the borders.