Answer:African politics in the postcolonial era has been marred by authoritarianism, corruption, military intervention, and leadership failures amidst a broader socioeconomic crisis characterized by poverty. Upon obtaining independence from colonial rule in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the public mood was marked by exuberance and hope for immediate and substantial changes. Equally, the political landscape, fueled by the triumph of independence and corresponding empowerment, fostered an atmosphere of high expectations for a better future for Africans. This enthusiasm, however, was shortlived. The new political leadership quickly learned that the aftermath of colonial rule presented an enormous challenge to meaningful socioeconomic development and state consolidation. The interplay of such challenges, personal ambitions, and political unrest prompted a downward spiral in African politics. Something went terribly wrong in the initial progression of selfgovernance upon independence. Here, we will outline this progression of political developments and demonstrate the entwined nature of political, social, and economic dynamic.