{UAH} As Buhari wins, Africa’s five biggest economies now in the hands of ex- soldiers and rebels

THE election win of Muhammad Buhari in Nigeria now means Africa's five biggest economies by GDP are now in the hands of either former military men or leaders with armed struggle credentials.

In addition to Africa's biggest economy, South Africa, Egypt, Algeria and Angola are run by leaders who either fought in bush wars or rode in on soldiers' credentials, completing a stunning reversal of what had been celebrated as the rise of African technocrats.

South Africa's Jacob Zuma is only constrained by the country's still-strong democratic practices, but he was among those jailed at Robben Island for his anti-apartheid liberation activities and was ANC's intelligence chief during the anti-apartheid struggle. 

It appears the continent's leading economies, scarred by conflict including with militants and separatists, are plumping for stability first. Algeria for example preferred to elect a man in a wheelchair but who could guarantee security after its scarred past rather than experiment with fresher candidates.

Among other things, Abdelaziz Bouteflika is a veteran of Algeria's independence Army of National Liberation, a force he joined in 1956 at the tender age of 19.

Egypt has since seen a suit-wearing general muscle his way into power in the wake of a revolution that seems to have come full circle, while Angola's Jose Eduardo dos Santos very much retains his liberation struggle credentials.    

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Brian M. Kwesiga

President and CEO,

Ugandan North American Association - UNAA

972.415.6372 | www.unaa.org | "United We Stand"