Final answer:
African authoritarian leaders maintain power through violence, intimidation, and the manipulation of elections, often leading to human rights abuses and rigged elections. Historical examples like the genocide in Rwanda and militaristic chiefdoms like the Asante illustrate these tactics. Military strength and the suppression of civil unrest are central to these rulers' strategies.
Step-by-step explanation:
African authoritarian leaders maintain power through a variety of methods, including the use of violence, economic control, and military strength. These rulers often employ intimidation and brutality to suppress opposition, capitalizing on the populace's fear and subjugation. This can lead to widespread human rights abuses, as seen in historical events like the genocide in Rwanda and ongoing conflicts in countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Nigeria.
Some African rulers have originated from military backgrounds, thus, violence against opposition is not an uncommon tactic. To perpetuate their authority, leaders might use violence to suppress civil unrest, dismantle anti-government protests, or, in some instances, initiate attacks such as the mosque attack in the Central African Republic in 2021.
Furthermore, to retain a semblance of legitimacy, some authoritarian governments manipulate elections using monopolized media, arrests, and threats against opponents, and evidence of ballot rigging has been noted.
Historical militarism is evident in the formation of powerful chiefdoms, such as Asante, which relied on military might to conquer and exact tribute from neighboring groups. This coercive power, contrasting the persuasive influence in less hierarchical societies, remains a characteristic method of governance amongst some contemporary African rulers who use violence as a means to achieve and maintain their goals.