Africa consists of many different countries, ranging from the generally Islamic countries of North Africa to more pluralistic countries in sub-Saharan Africa. As Africa consists of 54 different countries in a landmass of 11.7 million square miles (or 30 million square kilometers) in size, there is substantial variation among countries.
North Africa consists of Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, and Tunisia. Of these Sudan and Libya verge on being failed states, riven by internal conflicts. Algeria, Egypt,...
Africa consists of many different countries, ranging from the generally Islamic countries of North Africa to more pluralistic countries in sub-Saharan Africa. As Africa consists of 54 different countries in a landmass of 11.7 million square miles (or 30 million square kilometers) in size, there is substantial variation among countries.
North Africa consists of Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, and Tunisia. Of these Sudan and Libya verge on being failed states, riven by internal conflicts. Algeria, Egypt, and Morocco are generally run by authoritarian governments, with the Moroccan one in a gradual process of liberalizing. Tunisia is a functioning democracy and the great success story of the Arab Spring. The main obstacles to democracy in these countries are the strength of strongmen and factionalism and the rise of militant Islam.
The country of South Africa has a functioning democracy, which is somewhat under threat by the increasing amount of cronyism and corruption in the ANC. Many of the other sub-Saharan countries tend to have entrenched leaders who use the power of patronage to retain a strong grip on the economies and governments of their states.
Tribalism and cronyism are two major threats in many countries as are entrenched leaders unwilling to vacate positions of power.
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