Africa is blessed with immense potential, rich resources, and dynamic young populations eager for progress. Yet, time and again, we witness leaders making decisions that defy logic, betray national interests, and undermine the aspirations of their people—all in the name of loyalty to sit-tight rulers.
From economic mismanagement to political repression, from turning a blind eye to corruption to stifling dissent, these so-called leaders sacrifice the future of their nations just to remain in the good books of aging autocrats. They silent critical voices, manipulate democratic institutions, and endorse oppressive policies—not because they believe in them but because they fear losing favor with the strongmen who hold the reins of power abroad.
But at what cost? Our youth are jobless. Our economies are stagnating. Our freedoms are smothered. The world moves forward, yet many African nations remain trapped in cycles of bad governance, fueled by sycophancy and cowardice.
True leadership demands courage—the courage to stand for what is right, to place the interests of the people above personal ambition, and to resist the urge to serve dictators rather than citizens. History has shown us that no empire, dictatorship, or tyranny lasts forever. The question is: When the tides of change come—and they surely will—where will these leaders stand? Will they be remembered as heroes or as traitors to their people?
Their inordinate love for power and wealth surpasses the welfare of their subjects. They steal money, take loans meant for development, and stash them in foreign banks. They buy guns to kill their people to maintain themselves in power. Their countries lack basic infrastructure like roads, water, electricity, health facilities, medicines, and schools.
They cannot ask themselves which magic wand Ibrahim Traore is using to transform Burkina Faso in two years, something some have been unable to do in decades. Instead, they plot to eliminate him. Poor Africa.
Sit-Tight African Puppet Dictators Must Learn from their Son, Ibrahim Traore
