DISSENT AND GOVERNANCE IN STATES: THE AFRICAN PERSPECTIVE
This paper examined dissent and governance in Africa. The method adopted by the paper is analytic. The paper argued that violent dissent protest and most forms of disputes in Africa are the result of the bad governance that the people have faced and continue to encounter to this day. The paper observed that dissent seems to be making little or no serious impact in Africa because African leaders when faced with organized dissent, routinely employ various kinds of coercive force in the hopes of subduing these challenges rather dialoguing with dissenter. With the continent reeling from the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and freedom of expression under threat in all the countries. The paper concludes that there is need for dialogue and dissent programs. Under the dialogue and dissent program, numerous initiatives should be organized to reach out to different dissent groups and give them a level playing ground to engage in dialogue with the authorities. Else the continent of Africa is sitting on cage of gun powder that will explode and consume both the rulers and the ruled.
Keywords: