Africa in the 14th Century was a peace and loving continent. When the Europeans came, they later administer African and introduce some foreign policies to govern the people. The African government system was destroyed by these Europeans during the colonial period. After WW2, some intellectual African elite who have stayed abroad started advocating for African Independence. It was this move that led to the sending of the white man from the African continent but their culture have been bestowed on us with their foreign policies.

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When our colonial masters left, power was given to the hands of our own brother. But since the policies were not ours, the colonial master still had a way of featuring in our African systems indirectly. This made some of our leaders power drunk, greed and treated other African as second class citizens. Division started, people started asking questions but sometimes the men in power responds with violent to suppress them. People became angry as to why they will be treated like foreigners in their own countries, leaders refused to leave power and the truth sometimes was hidden thus the rise of African civil war that we have right now. These civil wars have brought untold misery to the people. This include the case of Uganda, Mali, Rwanda and Cameroon just to name a few. A lot of atrocities have been made and amongst which we have:

Smuggling of Arms

African was good with its own technology use for protection. These were mostly traps, knives and den guns. During the colonial period they came across sophisticated weapons like machine guns and grenade. During this period of civil unrest most of the opposition parties smuggle guns just arm themselves. Guns have become too common in the society citing the case of Cameroon and there is too much fear and high uncertainty. People are being attacked and killed on daily bases with these guns.

Recruitment of Baby Armies

War is a bad thing. It’s either you survive or die and when it becomes tougher there is no choice than for small one to pick arms to fight not to die. Like in some cases, the state forces may turn to recruit baby soldiers just to fight. In the other side some communities force little ones to fight. There is no age for entering into the force now. Sometimes no training so far as you can hold a gun and shoot then you are ready to fight. Something has to be done.

Increase Death Rate

In war people must die. It’s all about fighting till the winner emerge. Many have died because of civil wars and still to die. Many die without knowing why they are fighting for, some just caught in the act(stray bullets) and others voluntary kill themselves. Killing is just normal during war. It’s already 20 years since the end of the bloody Sierra Leone civil war that killed more than 70.000 persons. The case is that of Cameroon when he have taken more than enough lives. When will all these end?

Displacement of Persons.

War is a bad thing. It start just like a play and things starts going wayward. You will be peaceful in your own side then one day you will be force to run out or sometimes relocate. People houses are burn during wars, some communities becomes intense in a way people can not longer stay there. In such situations those affected that can not stand to take the risk are forced to displace to other areas where there is calm. Some other persons are always wanted and to survive not to be killed the best way is to displace your self to a safe zone. People leave their homes to other areas where they live under hard conditions because of wars, others cross boundaries right up to international level just to seek for shelter and security.

Low Development Growth

War comes wit destruction. When people can not do normal activities in the economy there is bound to be slow development. Roads are destroyed, investors can’t risk, money is moved out as well as the labor force. Everything stands still as people instead are trying to seek for security. This is the case of the Cameroon crises where the Babajou-Bamenda road for years have been stopped due to insecurity in the area. Businesses stops and nothing can’t be plan to be executed when there is war in an area. All these increase the spirit of development.

Kidnapping and Fear

When there is war, things do happen one of which is kidnapping. When money stop to circulate in such economy, men in power develop a strategy just hold people and take money. This is because there is too much insecurity and people try to only protect themselves. It’s common now in Bamenda in such a way that there is too much fear in the atmosphere. Going out in a daily life is uncertain if you will come back. All these is as a result of wars.

All these is because of greed and bad governments policies. To a greater extend the former colonial masters have to be blame because they now control Africa with their longtime policies through the back door. What can we do? Can we not acquire the necessary technology to develop our own nations? Can we not use democracy so that power can change hands?. It’s sometimes believed that those that role the nations are illiterates and do not want to be corrected or sometimes they just do all to have their own share of hw national cake. What is wrong is wrong no matter how many people pretend.
Thanks for reading.