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Notes A
1. CRISES IN THE WORLD CAPITALIST SYSTEM
2. NATIONALISM AND THE STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE IN AFRICA
4. CHANGES IN POLITICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC POLICIES IN AFRICA AFTER INDEPENDENCE
5. THE NATIONAL MILITARY AND LEGAL INSTITUTIONS IN AFRICA AFTER INDEPENDENCE
6. FORCES HINDERING DEVELOPMENT IN INDEPENDENT AFRICAN STATES
7. AFRICA IN CONTINENTAL, REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
AMAZING
HISTORICAL SITES IN AFRICA - PART
4
10. Rock-hewn
churches of Lalībela
Lalībela, located in
north-central Ethiopia, is famous for its rock-hewn churches, which date
back to the late 12th and early 13th centuries. The 11 churches, important in
Ethiopian Christian tradition, were built during the reign of the Emperor Lalībela.
The churches are arranged in two main groups, connected by subterranean
passageways. Notable among the 11 churches are House of Medhane Alem (“Saviour
of the World”), the largest church; House of Golgotha, which contains
LalÄ«bela’s tomb; and House of Mariam, which is noted for its frescoes.
Centuries after they were built, the churches still draw thousands of pilgrims
around important holy days.
11. Beit al-Ajaib
Museum, Zanzibar
The Beit al-Ajaib,
also known as the House of Wonders, is one of Zanzibar’s best known historical
landmarks located at the waterfront area of Zanzibar Town. The palace was built
in 1883 for Sultan Barghash on the site of an older palace used by Queen Fatuma,
the Mwinyi Mkuu (ruler of Zanzibar) in the 17th century. It was the first
building on Zanzibar to be installed with electric lighting, and one of the
first in east Africa to have an electric lift, earning the ‘house of wonders’
name by the locals. Since then, it has survived destruction from bombardment in
the 1800s due to a failed political coup and was used by the British and the
Tanzanian government as political headquarters. It has since been converted
into a museum, where visitors learn about Zanzibar’s rich history and culture
as well as about the history of the entire Swahili Coast, which extends from
Southern Somalia to Northern Mozambique. Entrance into the museum costs $3 and
photography inside the museum is permitted. Visitations can be booked through a
travel agency.
12. Leptis Magna -
Libya
The city was founded
by the Phoenicians in 7th Century BC, but was later expanded under the Roman
Empire’s control. The site was majorly excavated by the Italians in the 1930’s
and, it is the Roman architecture and influence that we can still see prominently
in the ruins of this abandoned city. As can be expected from former Roman
settlements, there are the classic amphitheatres, mosaics and bath houses.
Conflicts in Libya have halted tourists interest, but hopefully when the
country becomes a less high risk location it will bloom into being the tourist
hot spot it deserves.
MILITARY
COUPS IN AFRICA
Africa is not the
only space in the world where coups have happened. But Africa is currently home
to the highest number of countries with recent military coups and takeovers.
While the rest of the world is aiming for advancement and development, Africa is
battling recurrent news of military coups and takeovers. There is something
fundamentally wrong on the continent. While it is not out of place to blame the
role colonisation — and its resultant mambo-jumbling of people of differing
races, cultures, and approaches — has played in the disruption of the
continent, it is important to note that Africa is not the only home of former
colonies. India has never for once experienced a military coup. That is not to
say India is perfect, but India is growing, evolving and learning.
Coup attempts were
frequent in Africa in the post-independence and Cold War periods.
By comparison, the
past 20 or so years have been quiet. From 2011 through 2020, the continent
averaged fewer than one completed coup per year. But since then, the relative
stability has given way to what looks like a sharp reemergence of coup
attempts.
From January 1, 2020,
through December 2022, there were a dozen coup attempts on the continent. Of
those, six resulted in an unconstitutional change in government at the hands of
military officers.
With coups rampant
throughout the continent since 2011, the Union has lost its grip on peace.
Actors both local and international have exerted their influence over these
coups. Examples are the events in Libya, Egypt and Tunisia in 2011, Burkina
Faso in 2014 and 2022, Zimbabwe in 2017, Algeria and Sudan in 2019, Mali in
2020 and 2021, Guinea in 2021, Niger in 2023 and Gabon in 2023.
Unfortunately, the
governments that follow these coups have failed to address the circumstances
that caused them. This, of course, leads to further coups. Succeeding regimes
entrench themselves in power by corruption and by marginalising their political
adversaries. Eventually, rising mass poverty provokes deep political
disgruntlement. Political instability triggers a coup — and so the cycle
continues.
Foreign influence from the likes of France and the US play a significant role in the instability in West Africa and the Sahel. Africa has hosted foreign military personnel for decades. At least 13 countries, including the US, France, UK, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Japan, and India, have a military presence.
Good but deep summarized.
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