Democratization in Africa from mid-to-late-20th Century

By Kai Guy

  • End of the Cold War

    During the cold war, many African countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Zambia were imperialized by communist or authoritarian regimes. When the cold war ended these countries had more control over their state which allowed them to establish democratic systems.

  • The Maastricht Treaty

    The Maastricht Treaty was a treaty established by the European Union that had a number of provisions with the EU's relations with non member countries. Africa's financial and political support from this helped them advance and become more democratic.

  • The Rwandan Genocide

    The Rwandan Genocide was a mass slaughter of Tutsi and moderate Hutu people in Rwanda in 1994, it is estimated that about 1 million people were killed. After the Rwandan Genocide, Rwanda underwent a process of reconciliation and rebuilding through its self-determination. In doing so they became more united and democratic.

  • The Collapse of Apartheid

    Apartheid was a system of standardized ethnical segregation and discrimination that was implemented by corrupt white politicians in the government of South Africa from 1948 to 1994. After the collapse South Africa decided to host a presidential election, Nelson Mandela was elected as the country's first black president.