Abstract
The emergence of African states as independent by 1970 had brought hope and expectations to nationals that the winds of change were to be equated with good life and freedom. Yet, no sooner had political freedom been gained than expectations turned elusive. The causes were bad political governance that soon burdened many states, military interventions of one-party states, abuse of rule of law, mass corruption and nations disintegrating. Also, the quest for freedom and dignity was not helped by a continental union that focused solely on political liberation of Africa and ignored any concerted effort towards integration and promotion of socio-economic lives of people.This article examines the political tremors that had engulfed some states in Africa and the resultant intervention by foreign powers. It is argued, that a major cause of the political ruffle in Tunisia, the Cote D’Ivoire, Egypt and Libya had been the inability of the African Union to be pro-active in enforcing norms of good governance among member-states through its inspecting agency, the African Peer Review. The apparent political paralysis is therefore a function of an African Union impotence that needs to be resolved Underlying the tremors are issues of democracy, good governance, and public service reform for which a theoretical discourse is engaged.Keywords: African Union, democracy, governance, revolution, impotence. APRM, civil warDisciplines: Public Management, African Studies, Political Studies
Highlights
In 1960, no less than 22 African states were granted independence by the British and French colonial masters
The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) is an African-led innovation that represents a bold approach to reform for building capable states with enduring good governance and sustainable development
The APRM is designed to monitor and assess progress made by African countries in meeting their commitment toward achieving good governance, social reforms and sustainable development (Hope, 2005: 289)
Summary
In 1960, no less than 22 African states were granted independence by the British and French colonial masters. This sweeping event prompted the British Prime Minister, Harold McMillan to warn the apartheid South African government, in a scathing speech in Parliament in Cape Town, with the euphemistic expression, “the winds of change” are sweeping across Africa. Ababio the founding of the continental union, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in May 1963. The prime objective of the OAU was the political liberation of Africa, an objective that ignored any concerted effort towards nation-building and promotion of socio-economic lives of Africans. At the heart of the reincarnation of the winds of change are issues of democracy and governance
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