After Egypt: It's only a matter of time before change comes to sub-Saharan Africa

 

Repressive regimes like that of Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi (centre, after elections in 2010) have skilfully exploited ethnic diversity to their advantage by bestowing economic, political and employment benefits along ethnic lines.

Photograph by: THOMAS MUKOYA REUTERS FILE PHOTO, Freelance

The successful uprising in Egypt is reverberating beyond the borders of that country, but will it affect sub-Saharan Africa, where the regimes have been even more corrupt, oppressive, and despotic than Hosni Mubarak's?
The lesson of the uprising in Egypt is clear: A coordinated, sustained and broad-based revolt can topple a dictator peacefully. In sub-Saharan Africa, the social, economic, and political conditions are ripe for a peaceful rebellion against the despots, yet organizational challenges remain immense. The high level of poverty, the small proportion of educated people, restricted access to the Internet, ethnic diversity, and the presence of mercenary armies in most countries pose major obstacles for a successful upheaval. But these hurdles are not insurmountable. Read More