Political Leadership and the Quest for Unity and Development in Africa

Africa's history is not the stuff of which fairy
tales are made of. Slavery, colonialism, and
neocolonialism left a bitter legacy in Africa. But
it is also true that Africa was failed by her
leadership. Today, the challenge for Africa s
leadership is to escape from the grips of the past
and create the conditions that will allow her people
a life of dignity. And there has never been a better
opportunity to do so. These are the challenges of
modern days. These are the defining challenges of
political leadership. The battle for political and
economic emancipation could only be won with a mind
resolutely turned towards the future. Thus, a new
contract is needed between the people and the
leadership in Africa.
When African leaders met at Kananaski in June 2002
and at Durban in July of the same year to create the
African Union, this is what they were signing: a
pledge to the people of Africa to promote sound
economic management, democracy, peace, security and
development within the framework of a united Africa.
At the end of the day, this exciting road to unity
and development promises to be not an easy one. More
than anything else, it promises to be a test of
leadership.

Autorentext

Dr. Thierno Thiam, a citizen of Senegal (West Africa), is a Research Fellow at the Purdue Terrestrial Observatory at Purdue University (USA). Thierno Thiam defended his PhD thesis inPolitical Science on November 6th, 2008 on The Paradigmatic Logicof the Emergence of International and Security Communities in Africa.

Klappentext

Africa's history is not the stuff of which fairytales are made of. Slavery, colonialism, andneocolonialism left a bitter legacy in Africa. Butit is also true that Africa was failed by herleadership. Today, the challenge for Africa'sleadership is to escape from the grips of the pastand create the conditions that will allow her peoplea life of dignity. And there has never been a betteropportunity to do so. These are the challenges ofmodern days. These are the defining challenges ofpolitical leadership. The battle for political andeconomic emancipation could only be won with a mindresolutely turned towards the future. Thus, a newcontract is needed between the people and theleadership in Africa.When African leaders met at Kananaski in June 2002and at Durban in July of the same year to create theAfrican Union, this is what they were signing: apledge to the people of Africa to promote soundeconomic management, democracy, peace, security anddevelopment within the framework of a united Africa.At the end of the day, this exciting road to unityand development promises to be not an easy one. Morethan anything else, it promises to be a test ofleadership.