Achille Mbembe, a Cameroonian historian and philosopher, argues that the idea that democracy is incompatible with Africa is false. In an interview with Le Monde, he discusses the continent’s democratic prospects in light of its history and current global challenges.
Mbembe, who directs the Foundation for Innovation for Democracy, says successful transfers of power have taken place in several African countries. However, he considers the continent’s “long cycle of tyranny,” reinforced by the colonial period, far from over.
The interview also addresses the rise of conservatism and far-right voting in liberal democracies in Europe and the United States, placing those trends alongside questions about democracy’s future in Africa. The available text provides an overview of the discussion but not the interview’s full answers.
Sources: Le Monde International.