Final answer:
The assertion that Africans wished for colonialism to remain is false. Nationalist movements across Africa sought independence despite the overwhelming challenges of establishing stable governments and economies post-colonization.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that African nations wished for colonialism to remain due to the lack of stable governments ready to take control is false. After World War II and with the establishment of the United Nations, decolonization became a significant global trend. Nevertheless, the transition from European colony to independent state was fraught with difficulties for many African countries. The authoritarian and extractive institutions that had existed under colonialism left challenging legacies. African nationalist movements, driven by the desire for self-determination and recognition of the injustices of colonial rule, were a critical force pushing for independence.
European powers, like France, initially tried introducing moderate reforms, aiming to prevent full independence, but African nations fought for and eventually gained complete sovereignty. However, these new nations faced immense challenges. They inherited boundaries set without regard to ethnic or cultural territories, lacked stable political institutions, and struggled with economic development due to continued economic dependencies established under colonial rule. Socio-economic restructuring and nation-building efforts often encountered setbacks, including the creation of failed states due to weak political infrastructures and contested national identities.