Political violence and state formation in post-colonial Africa

This paper argues for the importance of understanding the political legacy of colonialism. Its author contends that colonialism in Africa left a legacy of dual citizenship - the civil and the customary - which reflected not different histories or different cultures, but a different political relationship between the colonial power and the populations defined as races and tribes. The author argues that the inability of postcolonial states to move away from the colonial legacy and “depoliticize” cultural difference hinders processes of Nation-building and gives rise to political and ethnic violence in Africa.

The discussion concludes that the citizenship challenge needs to be thought through in the concrete context of former colonies with a legacy of 20th century indirect rule mediated through a regime of customary law enforced by customary authorities. The key question in the post-colonial African context is not which rights, but whose rights. Who has the right to rights, the right to be a citizen?