GOVERNMENTS AND

ECONOMIES OF
AFRICA

Look at your notes. What do we already

know about Kenyas government?

Governments

Republic of Kenya

Kenya gained its independence from British

in 1963 under the leadership of Jomo
Kenyatta.
They currently had a democratic republic
with an elected president and a one house
(unicameral) law making body.

Government of Kenya

Republic
Executive branch is the strongest and president
serves a 5 year term
President is the head of state and head of
government.
Legislative : parliament, is a unicameral body
called the National Assembly, or Bunge. (224
members and 12 are appointed by president)
Rights of Citizens:
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal
Right to participate in political process

Government of South Africa

Constitution ratified in 1996; splits power between the

executive and legislative and judicial branches
Constitution also contains a Bill of Rights for South
Africans.
Executive : President
President elected to a five year term
President is the head of government and head of state.
Leader of the party with the most seats in National
Assembly
Legislative: bicameral parliament.
1st house called the National Assembly(400
members); 2nd house National Council of Provinces
(90 officals appointed by provincial legislature).

Republic of South Africa

Up until 1994 South Africa had an Oligarchy

form of government, in which the white
leaders of the Apartheid controlled
Today, South Africa has a democratic
government made up of two different
houses the National Assembly (elected by
the citizens), and the National Council of
Provinces (elected by the provincial
legislature of every province).

Governments

Unlike the Republics of Kenya and South

Africa, many countries have fallen under
the leadership of dictators since their
independence. For example
Sudan Although Sudan is called the Republic of
Sudan, it is run by a military dictatorship.
President is Chief of state and Head of
government

Governments

Sudan

Government Type: Autocracy/Military Dictatorship

Government of National Unity (GNU) - the National
Congress Party (NCP) and Sudan People's Liberation
Movement (SPLM) formed a power-sharing
government under the 2005 Comprehensive Peace
Agreement (CPA)
the NCP, which came to power by military coup in
1989, is the majority partner; the agreement stipulates
national elections in 2009

Egypt

Has a Constitutional Democracy

Problems with
governments

Although many countries in Africa are guided

by a democratic form of government, there is
still corruption and instability.

Kenya, for example, has a democracy- but the

citizens have very little say. Much of the decision
making process is dominated by the president and
his party.
Like Kenya, South Africas government is still
plagued with problems. Even with the end of the
Apartheid much of South Africas wealth does not
reach the black population causing poverty among
half the population.

Problems with government..

Other problems include civil wars that
have broken out in countries like
Sudan and Nigeria- causing
government instability.
Sometimes government policies hold
certain citizens back from succeeding.
Example: Sudan- Women have
limited rights and are not given
proper education.

Government and current

conflicts

Nigeria

Nigeria has a Parliamentary Democracy but Nigeria

is torn apart by civil war, and corrupt government
Intense conflicts between the Muslims in northern
Nigeria and Christians in Southern Nigeria.
Boko Haram is an Islamic terrorist organization in
northern Nigeria has become increasingly more
violent and opposes the westernizing of Nigerian
society and primarily focuses its violent acts
towards the wealthy elite and Christians in
southern Nigeria.

Economies.

South Africa

South Africa is the most developed country in Africa

South Africa, like the U.S. relies heavily on Service

Industry

They have a mixed economy that leans heavily on the

market side--currency is called the Rand.

Service Industries- Banking, tourism, entertainment, retail,

etc.

Problems- South Africas economy is still fighting the

legacy of the Apartheid- 30% of the population is
unemployed- the majority of those people are black.
Also crime has made it harder to attract foreign investment
even with their abundant natural resources.
South Africa also has the highest rate of HIV/AIDS in Africacausing the country to spend more money on health car
than anything else

Economies

Egypt Egypts has a mixed economy, but

the state or public owned businesses
account for nearly 70% of Egypt's
goods or services- making it more of
a command econ.
Their economy on tourism, natural
resources (oil), and agricultural
goods (cotton, wheat).

What is holding African

countries back

What is holding African countries

back from becoming a developed
nation?
Famine
Disease
Low Literacy Rates
Political instability since
independence

Improving Economies

What are ways that

countries in Africa
can improve their
economies?

Investment in
Human Capital
(workers)
Through education
Better benefits

Investment in Capital
goods
New technology
New machinery

Southern African
Development
Community (SADC)

9 South African
countries came
together in 1980 to
help financial growth

The Economic
Community of West
African States
(ECOWAS)

Created in 1975 to
raise the standard of
living and stability in
West African countries