Ethnic Conflict and State Formation in Post-Colonial Africa: A Comparative Study of Ethnic Genocide in the Congo, Liberia, Nigeria, And Rwanda-Burundi (Third WORLD PROBLEMS AND ISSUES IN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE‪)‬

INTRODUCTION It is an undeniable reality that the 20th century was perhaps the most challenging century for Africa since the era of the Atlantic slave Wade and the colonization that followed. Besides crushing economic woes that plagued most of the continent, political instability and wars were the hallmark of the 20th century. One indicator of this crisis is the failure of state in most parts of Africa as authoritarian rule became the norm. The history of state formation in Africa has been a very difficult history in comparison to other states in other developing countries of the Third World. However, if one looks at the origin of colonial states in Africa, one can see that these neo-states were conveniently put together to further European metropolitan economic interests. The fragmental nature of these states created the conditions for abuse by local elite and their metropolitan bosses. As the continent continues to decline, economically speaking, its political landscape also continues to be marked by a plethora of dictatorial regimes, military autocracy, and one-party states. From the horn of Africa to the cape of southern Africa, where multi-racial democratic rule continues to reinforce the economic power of the old white oligarchy, the quest for true independence remains as elusive as ever. In Zimbabwe and South Africa, where multi-racial democracies are presided over by former freedom fighters, hope of true independence has since been dashed while self-rule has turned into a nightmarish dream for the majority of the African poor.