Struggles for independence

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Colonialism and Civil Wars in Africa
Several European powers colonized almost all African countries (Thomson 2). In the process of fighting for independence, the local people became hostile to the foreigners but unfortunately, the hostility persists even today, and the people are always fighting though internally. The civil wars could have been avoided through the imperialists’ actions. The Europeans entrenched the culture of divide and rule which meant Africans hate the others. Different communities otherwise living in peace were made to fight for resources they had peacefully share for instance grazing land and water (Thomson 4). When the two were fighting the Europeans snatched their land. During the transition, the whites made no effort to reconcile the enemies they had created. The Europeans should have created peace among different communities and train them to live together as they used to do before their arrival.
The Whites could have shown the Africans the non-violent way of acquiring property before their departure. They ought to have taught Africans that problems can be solved using peaceful means and not just through violence as they had portrayed (Thomson 20). During colonialism, the Europeans were brutal towards Africans and addressed their issues applying force. The Europeans grabbed Africans land y force and in most cases were pushed out through force. They, therefore, taught the locals that the only way of being hard is by use of force and that is what Africans are doing.

They also elevated themselves into very senior positions of power. Power should also have been distributed well and reduce the prestige associated with leadership. They had to have shown the people that leaders are servants, not bosses. A person in power was respectable and commanded respect (Thomson 21). The Africans wished to hold those positions but could not and thus after the departure of the whites they struggle day and night to get it even applying force.
In conclusion, the imperialists played a significant role in the violence Africans face today. They showed Africans that they only want to acquire property and be heard through war. During their departure, they did not show Africans that they are peaceful ways of engaging with one another. They had met Africans being peaceful then disrupted them, and thus they had a role of showing them the right direction as they had done before.
Work Cited
Thomson, Alex. An introduction to African politics. Routledge, 2010.