DENIS MUTEGUYA: Africa’s Poisoned Inheritance, How Colonial Democracy Became a Curse Instead of a Blessing

When Africa gained independence, its people believed they were finally free. The colonial masters had packed their bags, flags had changed, and national anthems were sung with pride. But beneath the celebrations, something far more dangerous was left behind—an unfamiliar system of governance that was never designed for Africa’s realities. Wrapped in the noble language of democracy, it was a Trojan horse, a system that would keep Africa struggling with political instability, corruption, and division for generations to come.

The idea of democracy, as sold to Africans, was beautiful. Power was supposed to belong to the people. Leaders were meant to be chosen fairly, to serve, and to step down when their time was up. But in practice, what Africa inherited was something else entirely—a system where elections became battles, and power became a prize to be fought for at all costs. The winner-takes-all mentality took root, turning politics into a zero-sum game. If you won, you controlled everything. If you lost, you were sidelined, sometimes even persecuted. In such an environment, no leader wanted to leave power, and those outside the system became desperate to take it by any means necessary.

It’s no surprise, then, that African elections are often marred by violence. The stakes are too high. In some countries, losing an election feels like losing a war. And why wouldn’t it? The system Africans inherited was built by colonial rulers who governed through control, not consensus. Traditional African governance was about dialogue, about ensuring that all voices were heard and decisions benefited the community. But the Western model forced onto the continent was rigid, competitive, and exclusionary. It made power something to be seized, not shared.

Perhaps the most damaging effect of this system has been the deep divisions it has created. Before colonialism, African societies had their own ways of organizing themselves—clans, kingdoms, councils of elders—where leadership was based on service, wisdom, and experience. But colonial rulers carved up Africa, lumping different communities into artificial states and then introducing a democracy that was built on numbers rather than unity. Today, many African countries struggle with ethnic-based politics, where people vote not based on policies but on tribal lines. Democracy, which should have united nations, has instead fueled fragmentation.

The institutions meant to protect democracy have not fared any better. The judiciary, parliaments, and electoral commissions in many African countries are often weak or compromised. Instead of acting as checks on power, they serve those in power. Laws are bent to fit political interests, justice is for the highest bidder, and election results are often determined long before people cast their votes. Just like in the colonial days, the system still works to serve the few, not the many.

And then there’s corruption—the oil that keeps this flawed system running. Under colonial rule, power was maintained through patronage; loyalists were rewarded, while dissenters were punished. After independence, African leaders inherited the same playbook. Public resources are often used to buy political support rather than to serve citizens. Government contracts, appointments, and favors are handed out based on loyalty rather than merit. Corruption has become the unwritten law of survival in a system that was never meant to be fair in the first place.

Perhaps the cruelest irony of all is how Africa continues to seek approval from the very powers that once colonized it. Many African leaders care more about how the West views them than how their own people feel. Elections are often conducted not because citizens demand them, but because international donors and Western governments expect them. The result? Leaders who prioritize pleasing foreign powers over solving their own country’s problems. Economic policies are dictated by institutions like the IMF and World Bank, ensuring that Africa remains trapped in a cycle of dependency. It’s colonialism in a new form—one where Africans hold the titles, but someone else pulls the strings.

And so, Africa finds itself stuck, trying to make a system work that was never meant to serve it. The solution isn’t to reject democracy, but to rethink it. To strip away what doesn’t work and rebuild a system that reflects African values—one that prioritizes dialogue over division, service over self-interest, and stability over endless political warfare. Until that happens, democracy will remain an illusion for many Africans—a promise that was never truly meant to be kept.