African despots and their dalliance with the ridiculous

The stories of African despots and their penchant for the ludicrous are as amusing as they are revolting. One can hardly fail to marvel at the madness and sheer ineptitude that characterised the leadership of some of the early African leaders who took over from the colonial authorities in the late 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s.

Notable among this crop of leaders was Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah. On February 12, 1951 Nkrumah was released from James Fort Prison in Accra after serving 14 months for engaging in what the British termed as subversive activities. His party, the Convention People’s Party, had just won 34 out of the 38 contested Parliamentary seats in an election held in that year. Like the biblical Joseph who went straight from prison to the throne in Egypt, Nkrumah leaped from convict to Prime Minister in a record one day.


It is, however, his style of leadership thereafter that left many astounded and tongues wagging. At the time it gained independence in 1957, Ghana prided itself as one of the well-to-do tropical countries in the world. Nkrumah, who was 47-years-old at the time, was acclaimed as an able leader with qualities to steer Ghana up the road of economic, social and political development. Besides, he had been popularly elected and boasted six years’ experience of running a government.

A few years after assuming the reigns of power, Nkrumah morphed into a tyrant. He arrogated himself numerous titles and his penchant for praise and recognition was second to none. A compromised media, over which he maintained a tight grip, christened him, the Messiah, the Christ of our day, the Star of Africa, Redeemer (Osagyefo) among other sobriquets. Steadily, the tide of sleaze engulfed Ghana under Nkrumah’s watch. Nkrumah and his ministers engaged in an unmitigated plunder of public resources. Nepotism and friendship became the key considerations for one to be employed in the public service.

Vitally important factors such as competence and efficiency were relegated to the gutters. Untold violence was meted out on opposition leaders with some being incarcerated over trumped up charges. Decisions of the Judiciary were subject to Nkrumah’s approval or disapproval. Equally targeted were members of his cabinet who were perceived to be of independent mind. Government officials who expressed the slightest form of doubt in Nkrumah’s policies were not spared the purge.

The unmitigated looting of the public purse drove Ghana right to the brink of bankruptcy. Its foreign debt soared reaching a whooping 349 million pounds in 1964, just a few years after gaining independence. His fall from grace came in 1966. While in Beijing enroute to Hanoi he was supplanted by his own army. He died a dejected man in 1972 in a Bucharest hospital where he had been flown from Guinea Conakry.

But it is perhaps the story of Equtorial Guinea’s Francisco Macias Nguema that makes for interesting reading. Under the tutelage of the Spanish who colonised this tiny African country, Nguema made his way to the throne. In his seminal book, “The States of Africa”, British writer Martin Meredith, affords the reader a window through which to have a glimpse at the peccadilloes and shenanigans of Nguema. “ Equitorial Guinea steadily sank into a morass of murder and mayhem. Ten of the twelve ministers in the first government were executed. In their place, Nguema installed members of his own family and fellow tribesmen. His nephew, Colonel Tedoro Obiang Nguema Mbosogo became commander of the National Guard, military commander of Fernando Po, secretary-general of the Ministry of Defence and head of prisons,” writes Meredith.

Another relation of Nguema was simultaneously the minister of Finance, Trade, Information, Security and State Enterprises. Nguema, himself a stark illiterate, and his equally illiterate security forces had a deeply embedded and enduring distaste for intellectuals. They wreaked inestimable havoc on the country’s educated folk, who were in the minority, killing some and forcing others to go into exile. Public servants went for months without pay and anyone who dared to question this state of affairs did so at the peril of losing his own life.

Meredith further writes, “ In two documented cases he ordered the execution of all former lovers of his current mistresses. He also ordered the murder of husbands whose wives he coveted. Before each state visit that Nguema made abroad, political prisoners were routinely killed to dissuade other opponents from conspiring against him.” But like the vast majority of early African despots Nguema’s fall came in 1979. His nephew, Colonel Obiang Nguema, led a coup against Nguema. When he was put on trial, he was found guilty of 500 counts of murder.

Closer home, Uganda’s Idi Amin still holds the unenviable title of being the most unfortunate and despicable thing that has ever happened to Uganda. Shortly after wresting power from Obote in 1971, Amin embarked on an orgy of violence that drove Uganda to the brink of the precipice. He brooked no dissent and ordered the killing of his real and imagined foes at a whim. The story is told of one of his wives whose limbs he ordered to be chopped off. He unleashed unconscionable terror on businessmen of Asian origin. His demise came in 1979 when the Tanzanian army in collaboration with Ugandan rebels invaded Uganda forcing him into exile in Saudi Arabia from where he died.

These are just but few of the sad stories that defines African history. Annoyingly, at a time when Africa should have shaken off this odious reputation and adopted sound leadership policies, what transpired at the time of gaining independence from colonial masters seems to be repeating itself. Just the other day, Uganda’s long-serving President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni promoted his son Muhoozi to the post of Brigadier General raising speculation that he is grooming Muhoozi to take over when he leaves office. Museveni’s wife, Janet is a cabinet minister and has also been mentioned as a possible replacement of Museveni. His younger brother is also a cabinet minister, making the Ugandan cabinet something very much akin to a family affair.

 The error when countries were ran like a one man show are long gone. It is unfortunate that anyone would want to take Africa back to the sad old days. But will we just seat and watch a few demented elements ruin our continent? God forbid. We must stand up and say no to these charlatans. Their time is up and they should be swiftly consigned to the grave of forgetfulness.

 This article was published in the Star Newspaper on September 8,2012