RENOWNED Kenyan academic, Professor Patrick Lumumba, has strongly criticised the poor political leadership in Africa, urging African citizens to voice their dissatisfaction and demand more accountability.
Speaking at the 10th National Security Symposium in Kigali, Rwanda, Lumumba expressed his concerns about the prevalence of corrupt leaders in Africa, saying, ‘The rank of many political leaders in Africa are thieves. Let’s call them by their names. They are thieves. They are individuals who are not interested in the interests of their countries.’ Lumumba emphasised the need for citizens to actively participate in holding leaders accountable and making demands for better governance.
‘We must keep on shouting without being diplomatic because diplomacy is lulling us into a false sense of security,’ Lumumba added, emphasising the importance of a more assertive approach in demanding improved leadership. The symposium, which brought together promine
nt Pan-African scholars, civic society activists, and politicians, focused on the theme of Foreign Interference in Africa: The Enduring Destabilising Factor, shedding light on the historical context of external influences on the continent.
Lumumba highlighted the long history of interference in Africa, ranging from slavery to colonisation and neo-colonialism. He warned that African countries, upon gaining independence from the West, adopted governance systems that mirrored those of their colonisers, leading to a new form of subjugation. He stated, ‘We are now in a neo-colonial stage when the European powers are at their most diabolical. When the Americans are at their most diabolical.’ Lumumba expressed concerns about the influence of global powers on the continent, particularly regarding military training and the impact it has on African military personnel.
During his speech, Lumumba also discussed diplomatic interference by Western powers, the issue of debt trap, and the unequal treatment of African leaders compared to their Western counterparts. He criticised the condescending behaviour of European ambassadors towards African heads of state and highlighted how institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank exert control over African economies. Lumumba warned against the growing debt owed by African countries to China and the United States, which has become a geopolitical concern between the two powers.
Lumumba emphasiz
ed the need for Africans to be aware of the neocolonial project and its various forms of influence, including through NGOs, which he referred to as ‘trojan horses’ infiltrating African societies and institutions. He concluded by urging Africans to recognize the dangers of foreign interference and take action to protect their sovereignty and promote accountable leadership.
The thought-provoking remarks made by Professor Lumumba have sparked important discussions about the role of citizens in demanding better governance and resisting external influences. It remains to be seen how these ideas will resonate with African populations and shape the future of political leadership on the continent.
